ASCEND Network

Academic Sustainability and Circular Economy Network for Development

Connecting universities. Developing expertise. Shaping a circular future.

Simon Penney Waste Consulting is working with a leading African university in developing ASCEND, an international network connecting universities and higher education institutions across developing and emerging economies, with partners across countries and income groups.

Our ambition is to strengthen graduate and postgraduate education, research and professional capacity in waste management, resource efficiency and the circular economy. By connecting academic expertise with practical challenges, ASCEND aims to help develop the professionals, researchers and leaders who will shape more sustainable economies. Essentially it will help to shape the leaders of tomorrow across the emerging world.

 

 

The programme will take shape collaboratively with participating institutions. Possible components include:

  • Shared teaching and curriculum development, including specialist modules, guest lectures and joint learning resources.

  • Collaborative research and postgraduate supervision, connecting researchers and students around shared priorities.

  • Student and academic exchanges, supported by study visits, placements and opportunities for international collaboration.

  • Industry and public sector partnerships, linking education and research to practical projects and future employment.

  • Online seminars and knowledge sharing, making expertise and experience accessible across the network.

  • Joint funding applications and scholarships, helping broaden participation and support research and learning.

ASCEND is at an early stage, and we welcome input into its priorities, structure and activities. We are particularly interested in hearing from universities that would like to help shape the network as founding partners, alongside researchers, industry organisations, public bodies and potential funders.

Interested in helping shape ASCEND?

Please contact Simon Penney at simonpenneywasteconsulting@gmail.com to discuss ideas, partnerships or participation.