News

University of Botswana Researchers Win Prestigious “Best Paper Award” at AfRES Conference

PrizeA team of distinguished lecturers from the University of Botswana (UB) Department of Architecture & Planning has been awarded the prestigious "Best Paper Award" at the 23rd Annual Conference of the African Real Estate Society (AfRES), held in Livingstone, Zambia recently.

The winning research paper, titled "Weighing Upfront Costs against Future Savings: A Discrete Choice Analysis of Homeowners' Risk-Time Preferences for Energy Efficiency Upgrades," explores homeowners’ attitudes towards investing in energy-efficient upgrades by balancing initial costs with potential future savings. This in-depth study, co-authored by Dr Njideka M. Aguome, Dr Nonso I. Ewurum, Mr Phenyo Mpolokang and Professor Fidelis I. Emoh, impressed the conference’s panel for its innovative approach and significant contributions to sustainable real estate practices in Africa.

The University of Botswana community expressed immense pride in the achievement, highlighting the team’s dedication and commitment to research excellence. The Department of Architecture and Planning, under the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, has been instrumental in fostering impactful research and the award is seen as a reflection of the Faculty’s strong academic leadership and support.

“This award not only celebrates the exceptional work of our researchers but also underscores the University of Botswana’s Awardcommitment to meaningful, impactful research,” a university spokesperson stated. “We are proud of this accomplishment, which demonstrates the high calibre of scholarship within our institution and sets a benchmark for future contributions to global knowledge.”

The AfRES conference brought together top academics, industry experts and professionals from across the African continent to discuss emerging trends, challenges, and advancements in the real estate sector. UB’s recognition on this influential platform reaffirms its role in advancing sustainable development through innovative research.

The University hopes to build on this success and continue encouraging scholarly work that contributes to Africa’s knowledge landscape and the pursuit of sustainability.

In pursuit of academic excellence