Welcome to the latest edition of the WTUN newsletter: featuring a roundup of news, updates and events happening across the network.
In this month’s packed edition we announce this year’s WTUN Annual Lecture, hosted by University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria during WTUC2026, a final reminder to students to enter this year’s Student Competition, an invitation to attend this year’s International Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Resource Security AND a call for collaboration in applied research in the Arctic!
REMINDER: If you would like to share news, updates, events or milestones via this newsletter, then please contact wtun@bradford.ac.uk.
Together with WTUC2026 hosts, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, we are pleased to announce the WTUN Annual Lecture 2026 will be delivered by Professor Michael Shamiyeh, UNESCO Chair for Anticipatory Techniques.
Professor Michael Shamiyeh works with organisations to create a new and meaningful future (rather than fix the problems of the past). He combines the client’s unique business experience, analytical rigor, and the output of creative collisions (the clash of multiple perspectives to reframe habitual thinking) to transform insight into impact. Michael holds a UNESCO Chair for Anticipatory Techniques and Future Design, is a Fellow of the International Center for Corporate Governance (ICCG), which was originally founded at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and was a visiting professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering (CDR) at Stanford University in the USA from 2017 to 2020. Together with the latter two institutions, he founded the Center for Future Design (CFD) in Linz – an academic institution for research and teaching in the field of future competence. Since 2020, he has also been a member of the advisory board of Voestalpine AG and, since 2025, vice president of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Council of the Management of the Social Transformations Programme. www.michaelshamiyeh.com
The WTUN Annual Lecture is scheduled for Day 1 of WTUC2026. More details of the programme coming soon here
Final reminder for all students:
The WTUN Annual Student Competition – deadline to submit your team entry Thursday 9 April!
We are seeking new sustainable and innovative, technological solutions to address the goals, and we invite project proposals from student teams (undergraduate, postgraduate or a combination and preferably multi-disciplinary).
For more information and to apply – www.wtu-n.net/student-competition
In case you missed it:
Watch the replay of the recent WTUN Gender Equity Workshop hosted by King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, on Friday 13 March 2026
Watch the video here – www.wtu-n.net/webinars
Session Title: Best Practices in Promoting Gender Equity in Science and Technology HEIs”
With many thanks to our esteemed guests:
Moderator
-
Dr Romyen Kosaikanont, Vice-President, Mae Fae Luang University
Speakers:
-
Dr Martina Gaisch, Researcher on Higher Education and Program Manager, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
-
Professor Uduak Archibong, Pro Vice-Chancellor [Equality, Diversity and Inclusion], Professor of Diversity, University of Bradford
-
Professor Tomoko Iwata, Vice-President, Shibaura Institute of Technology
-
Dr Pinet Sriyotha, Associate Dean for Planning and Quality Assurance, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
FH Upper Austria and JKU Linz are jointly training the next generation of energy systems experts
New Joint Master’s Program “Digital Energy Solutions” launches in fall 2026
To increase regional collaboration, Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) and the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FH Upper Austria) are jointly introducing a new English-language joint master’s program: Digital Energy Solutions (DES). The program is designed to prepare students for challenges such as climate change and growing energy demand considering developments in renewable energy and digitalization, which are reshaping the entire energy system. The State of Upper Austria supports this initiative as a strategically important contribution to the energy transition and to strengthening innovation and economic competitiveness of the region.
More information: https://fh-ooe.at/en/news/jku-linz-fh-upper-austria-jointly-training-the-next-generation-of-energy-systems-experts and https://fh-ooe.at/en/degree-programs/digital-energy-solutions-master
FH Upper Austria shows how circular economy practices can help schools in Ethiopia and Ghana become cleaner and more self-sufficient.
Improving living conditions across the African continent is in everyone’s best interest. The hygiene situation in schools plays a key role in health, performance, and ultimately economic well‑being. It’s about things that are taken for granted in Europe: washing hands, access to functioning toilets, and menstrual products. A research team at the School of Engineering of FH Upper Austria is working with partner universities in Ethiopia and Ghana to design model schools that operate autonomously through circular‑economy principles and provide students with a cleaner, healthier environment.
More information: https://fh-ooe.at/en/news/fh-oberoesterreich-zeigt-auf-wie-durch-kreislaufwirtschaft-schulen-in-aethiopien-und-ghana-sauberer-und-autonomer-werden
University of Bradford
Insights from across the University of Bradford research community into how we’re making a difference through our research.
This week from the University of Bradford’s newly launched Research Blog:
Working to improve the living conditions of vulnerable communities in Jordan
Rania Aburamadan, Honorary Visiting Researcher, describes her experiences of working with migrant communities in Jordan and how she used her expertise in sustainable built environments and interdisciplinary research to address some of the challenges they face.
Register Now!
Department of Law, SoLSS Zero Waste Day Online Event
Monday, March 30th 2026
The Department of Law, School of Law and Social Sciences is pleased to convene an online event in commemoration of International Day of Zero Waste 2026 themed ‘The Reality of Sustainable Strategies for Reducing Food Waste’
Food waste is a critical yet preventable driver of environmental harm, with wastages of food reaching alarming scales, undermining food security and slowing progress toward a zero-waste, circular future. This event discusses issues around food waste in the United Kingdom and parts of Africa, and proposes circular economy solutions to tackle this prevailing problem.
Details of the online event are as follows:
Date: Monday 30th March 2026
Time: 1pm – 2pm (UK time)
Venue: Microsoft Teams (online)
Register now. (click link)
Speakers at the event include:
- Dr Farzaneh Fakhredin (University of Bradford)
- Dr Oluseye Oludoye (Teesside University)
The event will be moderated by Dr Irekpitan Okukpon (University of Bradford)
Universiti of Teknologi Malaysia
4th International Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Resource Security (IC-ENSURES 2026)
With great pleasure we would like to extend our invitation to the 4th International Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Resource Security (IC-ENSURES 2026). To be held at Sama-Sama Hotel KLIA, Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia on 19-20 August 2026.
🌏 Theme: “Water, Waste and Well-being: From Commitment to Action”
Sub-themes:
Sustainable Water Resources Management, Waste Management and Circular Economy, Hydraulics and Hydrology, Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control, Health, Sanitation and Well-being, Planetary Health in Environmental Policy, Governance and Community Engagement
📑 Publication: Coming soon.
📆 Important Dates
– Extended Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 JUNE 2026
– Full Paper Submission Deadline: 31 JULY 2026
– Registration Deadline: 31 JULY 2026
Registration – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfYoe4c3x0aVbh7uQK4JN7iHmdlewBDJuvv4QF-N37L5YXFQ/viewform
https://research.utm.my/ipasa/ic-ensures-2026/
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS)
SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) recently participated in the Kitikmeot Trade Show in Cambridge Bay Nunavut and then attended the Arctic Summit in Whitehorse, Yukon. These events are key contributors to important conversations on how industry and communities work together to support a strong and secure Arctic. The summit offered a broader perspective on northern development, infrastructure and collaboration, highlighting how community engagement plays a role in strengthening Arctic resilience.
With projects in the region, continued collaboration and engagement help ensure our work aligns with local priorities and contributes to lasting value, sovereignty and security in the North.
At ARIS, centres are advancing applied research that supports these priorities. This includes the Centre for Innovation and Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (CIRAMM), which is part of the NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) network. As a NATO DIANA test centre, CIRAMM supports the development and testing of technologies with relevance to defence, security and dual-use applications, supporting with the capabilities needed for resilience and security.
ARIS’ Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems (CIRUS) was front and centre at the event. Unmanned aviation has a strong role to play in the security and sovereignty of Canada’s north. CIRUS met with municipal leaders, Indigenous leaders, industry leaders who all saw value in integrating various drone capabilities to address numerous challenges and opportunities in the north. SAIT fostered many new relationships and built on its existing ones at the conference and trade show.
Would you like to know more?
There is a lot of opportunity for collaboration in the Arctic and if your organization has applied research interests in this area please reach out to SAIT’s ARIS Director, Jamie McInnis,
Do you know someone in your university who would be interested in this newsletter? Forward the email to colleagues or share the link with your networks.
All members are invited to contribute to this newsletter through their Operational Board Member (found here). Please contact your Operational Board member with stories or events which will be of relevance to the shared vision and commitments of the WTUN and its members, inspiring opportunity for engagement on commonalities, sharing knowledge, or collaboration.
All calls for content can be shared with the WTUN Secretariat at wtun@bradford.ac.uk.
To discuss joining the World Technology Universities Network, please contact the WTUN Development Manager:
Denise Whitehead
Email: wtun@bradford.ac.uk