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University of Botswana (UB) Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris, has encouraged staff at the Okavango Research Institute (ORI) to embrace innovation, accountability and a culture of continuous improvement as the University transitions to a High-Performance Organisation (HPO).

Addressing staff at ORI on the 29th of June 2026, Professor Norris said the University's transformation was not simply about restructuring but cultivating a high-performance culture that empowered employees, strengthened leadership and ensured research and innovation delivered meaningful impact to society.

"Transitioning to a High-Performance Organisation is not an event but a process," he said. "We now have the building blocks in place. The next step is changing how we think, lead and work together to achieve the University's goals, vision and mission."

Professor Norris explained that while the restructuring had laid the institutional foundation for transformation, its success would depend on highly engaged employees who take ownership of their work, embrace innovation and collaborate towards common goals.

He identified effective leadership, teamwork, accountability, adaptability, customer focus and continuous improvement as defining characteristics of a High-Performance Organisation. He encouraged managers to empower staff instead of micromanaging them besides fostering an environment where innovation could thrive.

Turning to ORI's strategic role, Professor Norris described research centres and institutes as the backbone of research-intensive universities. He advised staff to look beyond publications and focus on how research could be translated into innovations that improve lives, support national development and generate economic value.

"What does it mean to be a research-intensive university?" he asked. "It is not only about producing publications. It is about ensuring that our research and innovation move along the value chain and make a meaningful impact on society."

Professor Norris reaffirmed the University's commitment to strengthening ORI's research capacity including efforts to secure accreditation for one of its laboratories. He noted that although the University had not received capital development funding for infrastructure and equipment over the past decade, laboratory accreditation remained a strategic priority because of its potential to improve research quality, attract partnerships and generate additional revenue.

He further shared the University's long-term vision of positioning ORI as a more autonomous and financially sustainable research institute capable of expanding its contribution to Botswana's environmental research and national development agenda.

During the engagement, staff welcomed the University's renewed focus on research excellence. They emphasised that accrediting the ORI laboratory would strengthen the Institute's credibility, improve service delivery and open new opportunities for revenue generation through specialised analytical services.

Professor Norris concluded by encouraging staff to embrace the University's transformation journey with commitment and purpose, noting that the collective efforts of every employee would determine the success of UB's transition to a High-Performance Organisation.