The opening of the University of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland (UBBS) on January 1, 1964 was the outcome of an agreement reached in the mid-1962 between the High Commission Territories and the Oblate of Mary Immaculate of Pius XII Catholic University, Roma, Lesotho.
Pius XII College of Roma, which is 35 kilometres from Maseru, was itself the product of a desire for an institution of higher learning for Africans by a Catholic Church hierarchy in southern Africa. It opened its doors to students in 1946, with five students and five priest-lecturers. In 1950, it was taken over by the Catholic Order of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate.
By 1963, there were 180 students, both men and women, and several buildings, including a science block, refectory, administration complex and workshops. Courses at Pius XII College were taught and examined under a special relationship entered into in 1955 with the University of South Africa, which awarded students degrees and diplomas in Science, Commerce and Education.
Pius XII College experienced difficulties over finance for the expanding institution and over racial restrictions on the student residences as required by the University of South Africa. Negotiations with the High Commission Territories to transform the University College into a fully-fledged university were initiated during 1962.
University of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland (UBBS)
On June 13, 1963, a deed of cession and indemnity was signed by the Oblates and the High Commissioner of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland. The new University, with Ford Foundation and British government funds, purchased the assets of the Roma Campus for an indemnity of half of its value, in exchange for guarantees of a continuing Catholic presence on the campus.
Students seeking specialised degrees in Medicine, Engineering, etc, proceeded to other universities after completing Part I (Years 1 and 2) studies in Science. The number of academic staff grew from 31 in 1964 to 78 in 1970. Staff was recruited from many countries, but the University pursued an active localisation policy from 1971.
UBLS was equally funded by the Governments of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, but had comparatively little physical presence in Botswana and Swaziland in the first phase of its existence during 1964-1970.
With independence, the three countries began to take a closer look at the colonial inheritance of education, including their joint University, and began to identify the role of UBLS in higher and middle-level training.
A series of academic planning reports for UBLS produced after 1966 culminated in the second Alexander Report of 1970, which combined, 'the major recommendations of previous reports for the development of university campuses in each country and the unified development of higher education and vocational and teacher training'. The report recommended that Part I studies begin in Botswana and Swaziland, with eventual division of Part II (Year 2 and 4) studies among the campuses, and the consideration of 'polytechnic' arrangements for technical and vocational courses.
1971 - 1976
Following student unrest at Roma, and strained relations between the central UBLS administration and the Lesotho government over implementation of the 'Luyengo Package', the Roma campus was precipitately withdrawn from UBLS and constituted as the National University of Lesotho (NUL) on Monday October 20, 1975. This occurred at a time when a working group on further devolution of UBLS into three university colleges was preparing its report for the Council of the University.
The nationalisation of all facilities, monies and files in Lesotho meant the central administration of UBLS could operate with only limited effectiveness from premises at Malkerns during 1975-1976, and considerable autonomy was devolved onto the Botswana and Swaziland campuses.
Mission of the University of Botswana is to improve economic and social conditions for the Nation while advancing itself as a distinctively African university with a regional and international outlook. Specifically, the University will:
Provide excellence in the delivery of learning to ensure society is provided with talented, creative and confident graduates
Advance knowledge and understanding through excellence in research and its application
Improve economic and social development by high impact engagement with business, the professions, government and civil society
The University will fulfill its Vision and Mission by:
Offering quality academic and professional programmes that ensure a commitment to and a mastery of life-long learning skills as well as encouraging a spirit of critical enquiry
Developing a student-centred, intellectually stimulating and technologically advanced teaching, learning and research environment
Producing graduates who are independent, confident, self directed, critical thinkers, professionally competent, reflective practitioners, innovative, socially responsible and thereby marketable and competitive nationally and internationally
Advancing scholarship and generating research through the discovery, integration, dissemination and application of knowledge
Serving as an intellectual and cultural centre that draws upon the nation's indigenous knowledge base and which promotes Botswana's social and cultural heritage as well as being a community resource for new ideas, partnerships, and collaborative effort
Providing leadership in responding to the nation's cultural, economic, political scientific, social, technological and industrial needs and contributing to the qualitative development of Botswana's higher education system
Extending access to higher education through the utilisation of information and communication technologies, within the framework of life-long and open learning
Recruiting and developing quality staff and students, recognising and valuing the essential contribution they make, as well as rewarding excellence in the work they perform
Promoting the health, social, and spiritual welfare of the University community through a range of policies and programmes and a diversity of positive co-curricula activities and experiences
Enhancing the teaching, learning and research environment through the provision of a proactive style of leadership and management and efficient, effective and quality driven institutional support services.
Academic Integrity expressed in creativity, objective analysis, experimentation, critical appraisal, independent thought, informed debate and intellectual honesty
Cultural Authenticity by ensuring that the diversity of Botswana's indigenous values and cultural heritage forms an important part of the academic and organisational life of the institution
Internationalism through participation in the global world of scholarship, by being receptive and responsive to issues within the international environment as well as the recruitment of an international staff and student body
Social responsibility by promoting an awareness of, and providing leadership in responding to, the issues and problems facing society
Equity by ensuring equal opportunity and non-discrimination on the basis of personal, ethnic, religious, gender or other social characteristics
Autonomy as an institution, that is, through its self-governing structures, independent in action while being responsive to societal needs
Public Accountability by ensuring transparent decision-making and open review as well as the full participation of stakeholders in the development of the institution;
Productivity through the setting and rewarding of high standards of performance underpinned by a dedication to quality, efficiency and effectiveness throughout the institution.