Interrogating the Interconnection between Sustainable Development and Knowledge-based Economy

Abstract

The two expressions, sustainable development and knowledge- based 
economy are concepts that have all along been used and treated as if they 
are mutually exclusive. However, the truth is that the two concepts are 
intractable one from the other. Rather, they are, as a matter of fact, a 
sine qua non for each other. This is simply so because it takes intellectual 
capital or ‘’knowledge’’ for any form of development, whether social or 
technological, not only to reproduce itself but also in or it to grow and 
expand into the future without any compromises to its form, quality or 
status. This paper sets out to interrogate this relationship between the 
two concepts, demonstrating how it is only when they feed into each other 
that real and meaningful development takes place. The interest in the 
paper arises out of the understanding that the sustainable development 
that is a product of the interplay between it and the knowledge economy 
is the answer to the contemporary problem of acute unemployment 
because, when correctly contextualized, the knowledge economy equips 
the individual not only to look for a job but also to apply their knowledge 
to earn a living through forging a niche in the economy through selfemployment. At this point when there is widespread unemployment 
virtually the world over, but more especially in the developing countries and Botswana is no exception, a topic that promises to significantly 
increase the opportunities for self-employment must attract the attention 
of all and sundry. And finally, BA ISAGO University has established a 
Research and Innovation Unit. The innovation section is the strongest 
indication that the University has taken a pioneering and bold stand to 
commercialize research outputs. It is in that space that the knowledge 
economy will find its utmost application.