Interrogating the Interconnection between Sustainable Development and Knowledge-based Economy

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.