Assessment of Universities as Green and Sustainable Campuses in Botswana

Universities have always been touted as agents of social and economic change as they advance the boundaries of knowledge and propel innovation through research and knowledge transfer. This paper aims to review the different approaches universities use to promote green environments by examining the extent to which green technologies and curricula, and sustainable campuses are embraced within tertiary institutions (Universities) in Botswana. The methodology involved administering a questionnaire to all Universities in Gaborone to elicit responses on efforts to go green. The sample size was determined at a 90% confidence level with a margin (standard) error of 10% using a purposive sampling technique for analysis purposes. The data used in this study was collected using interviews with various key informants (lecturers in the built environment and facilities managers) for the Universities. It was found that some Universities are trying to become green campuses, though none have attained bespoke green campus status yet because of different challenges. Therefore, it is recommended that Universities, as think tanks of the society, should lead by example and become points of reference for the society to benchmark the concept of green and sustainable development.