News

University of Botswana (UB) researchers from the Department of Architecture and Planning have made the institution proud after winning two prestigious awards at the 3rd Southern African Regional Science Association (SARSA) International Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa, recently.

The team clinched both the Overall Conference Best Research Paper (Regional Science) and Thematic Best Paper (Human Settlements and Sustainable Development) awards, a remarkable feat that reaffirms UB’s growing leadership and visibility in regional and global scholarship.

Hosted under the theme “Rethinking Regional Opportunities and Challenges of Regional Development,” the SARSA conference brought together leading scholars, policymakers, professional practitioners and development partners to deliberate on emerging frontiers in regional development and planning.

The award-winning study, co-authored by Drs. Nonso Ewurum, Keone Kelobonye, Njideka Aguome, Professor Fidelis Emoh, Messrs Tema Nnyaladzi and Phenyo Mpolokang from UB, in collaboration with Dr Elizabeth Musvoto of the University of Cape Town (UCT), explores spatial identity transitions and the globalist-localist planning tensions shaping Southern African urbanism. The paper, presented at the conference by Mr Phenyo Mpolokang, impressed judges with its originality, analytical depth and policy relevance.

The latest success follows the team’s victory at the African Real Estate Society (AfRES) Conference in Livingstone, Zambia, last year where they scooped the Best Research Paper Award. The back-to-back wins highlight UB’s consistent excellence in research across the fields of real estate, planning and sustainable urban development.

Commenting on the achievement, Head of Department, Dr Keone Kelobonye, said the recognition reflected the department’s dedication to fostering a culture of academic excellence. “This double award is a testament to the hard work and passion of our researchers and the supportive environment we’ve built for innovation and scholarship,” he noted.

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), Professor Edward Dintwa, commended the team for their outstanding performance, describing it as proof of UB’s commitment to producing research that addressed real-world challenges and contributed to sustainable development in Africa and beyond.

The researchers expressed gratitude for the unwavering support they received from the Department, Faculty and broader UB community. “Our success is a product of collaboration and institutional support,” one team member said. “UB provides an enabling environment that allows research to thrive and make an impact.”

UB’s recognition at the SARSA conference cements the University’s reputation as a centre of excellence in applied research and innovation. It also underscores Botswana’s growing contribution to knowledge production on sustainable urbanisation and regional development in Southern Africa.