BU Research Blog

A project being run in partnership with a Malaysian university aims to inspire and build capacity for sustainability research

The SUNRISE project (Supporting University Network for Research in Sustainability Engagement) is a collaborative initiative between Bournemouth University (BU) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Some of the SUNRISE project team

Funded by the British Council’s UK-Malaysia Going Global Partnerships Grant for Student Mobility, the project focuses on building capacity for research on sustainability and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As part of the project, a series of events have been held for students and staff at both BU and USM, developing stronger links between the two universities and facilitating collaboration on sustainability research around shared areas of expertise.

The first event, held in April, showcased BU and USM staff’s sustainability research to an audience of staff and students from across the two universities.

The second event was a conference covering student research on sustainability, which took place in May. It was organised, promoted and managed by a team of 4 students from the BU MSc (Hons) Event Management course as part of their final year project.

The third and final event took place in October and celebrated project on sustainability by Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) from BU and USM. Presentations included topics such as sustainable duckweed production, tourists’ use of public transportation, and the impact of coastal erosion on socio-economic activities.

There were also presentations around enhancing diversity and inclusivity in research, as well as discussions around ways to build capacity for sustainability research.

The event saw the launch of the BU Student Sustainability Champion Award, in partnership with BU’s Sustainability team.

Associate Professor Dr Milena Bobeva, who has led the project for BU, said: I am incredibly proud with everyone who made the final SUNRISE forum another successful event: the doctoral students presenting their work; the Disability Services colleagues who shared valuable insight on how to present our work for greater inclusivity and diversity; the visiting researchers from our project partner, Universiti Sains Malaysia; and the engaging online and in-person audience.

“It has been a true privilege to work with the SUNRISE team and I am looking forward to sharing our experiences and enhancing the capacity for sustainability research.”

Find out more about the SUNRISE project