International collaborations are a critical part of the work we do, extending our reach and our effectiveness. In 2020, SST joined forces with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for the South Africa–Norway (SANO) Exchange Programme under the university’s Interns for Sustainability umbrella. This three-year initiative has seen postgraduate students and young researchers from both countries engaging in a number of projects to combat plastic waste and prevent marine pollution globally.
The third iteration of the programme has now come to an end, and SST and NTNU are looking critically at the most strategic way to shape potential future projects under the SANO Exchange Programme while retaining the unique elements that have influenced the programme so far.
To this end, we arranged a review workshop with leading South African waste sector experts, hosted by the Nelson Mandela University Business School, in Gqeberha on 3 April.
The final report, written by the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is expected to be helpful in motivating for the programme’s continued funding.
This three-year collaboration between SST and NTNU has united postgraduate students and young researchers across academic, social, geographical, cultural, and legislative boundaries. Since the programme’s launch in November 2020, each year saw a new cohort of participants working in teams on various plastic waste-related projects.
The overarching objective of the programme has been to equip these future leaders with knowledge and practical experience, and to connect them with international networks – all in the interests of bringing about systemic improvements to the global approach to marine pollution.
