• Universities

The University of Botswana (also known as Basco or UB) was established in 1982 and was the country’s first institute of higher education.However, it began life as a colonial Catholic vocational training university in 1946, before becoming a joint, cross-national higher education institution in 1966, when Botswana and Lesotho gained independence. Since the university became autonomous in 1982, it has become a key player in the country’s development and has maintained its combination of high academic standards and social progressiveness ever since.It has three campuses: one in Maun, one in Francistown and one in the capital city Gaborone. UB comprises six faculties: business, education, engineering, humanities, science and social sciences. There is also the University of Botswana School of Medicine, which is the result of a collaboration with the University of Melbourne. The latter is on the main Gaborone campus and includes a 450-bed academic teaching hospital.There are approximately 18,000 students at the University of Botswana. Many live on campus and make use of the extensive on-campus facilities, which include one of the largest libraries in Africa, an 8,000-seater stadium with an IAAF accredited track, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, outdoor courts for tennis, volleyball, basketball, field hockey and handball, and a climate-controlled 5,000 seater multipurpose indoor sports arena, food courts and a full service post office.Notable alumni include president of the Republic of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi and former president of the Republic of Botswana Lieutenant General Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama.