Inscape’s focus on building a circular economy through design awarded them a place among the institutions recognised by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation for their role as an educator in the circularity and sustainability space.
Since opening their first campus in Johannesburg, in 1981, Inscape has opened up four new campuses across South Africa, launched a scholarship programme, and widened their course offerings to include 14 undergraduate, two postgraduate, and 32 short courses. And, as of last year, Inscape was the first South African institution to be profiled by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, joining 54 universities across the globe.
A transition to a circular economy is urgent, and necessary, for the survival of our planet and its inhabitants. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is accelerating this transition by working with institutions, policymakers, and businesses to mobilise the changes needed to combat climate change and social inequalities.
A circular economy promotes a system whereby products are cycled back into the production cycle. Instead of extracting resources from the earth to make products that inevitably end up as waste – such is the case in our linear economy – circularity encourages regeneration, waste elimination, and the circulation of products and materials.
Inscape offers a variety of courses that incorporate circular thinking in their curriculum. Their Project81 initiative engages students to come up with sustainable solutions to the real-life problems of waste. Last year, across their five campuses, 550 students took part in this project over a five-day design marathon which included guest lectures and workshops and culminated in a presentation of their solutions.
This year, Project81 will work in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and relevant organisations. “The students were excited about the collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and, in particular, the engagement with circular economy principles being part of a global movement towards sustainability,” says Thulare Matlaba, Global Brand Manager at Inscape.
In addition to the Project81 Initiative, Inscape hopes to continue delivering, as well as expanding, a curriculum that focuses on sustainability, specifically centred around the Sustainable Development Goals, to create opportunities for problem-solving and advocacy.
“I believe that the solution to poverty, unemployment, and crime, is education,” says Helen Bührs, Chief Executive Officer Inscape Education Group. She adds, “access to higher education and throughput rates in South Africa continue to be a crisis in our country.”
Their scholarship programme offers students with academic excellence, from disadvantaged backgrounds, the opportunity to study at their institution. Selected individuals from the application pool are invited to attend a workshop to find those who “present passion, ambition, tenacity, a can-do attitude, and the desire to be great and impact their own communities through the opportunity of an education,” says Thulare. Since its launch in 2015, they have awarded 188 students a full or partial scholarship, and the opportunity to access higher education.
Their alumni have continued their careers in design across different industries, ranging from interior design to fashion, and working for brands such as the Silo, Samsung and TheUrbanative.
One of their alumni, Bashar Zapen, is using their design skills to create medical innovations. After studying a Bachelor of Design specialising in Ideation Design at Inscape in 2017, he has done work in UX design and data analysis. He is currently completing his masters in Industrial Medical Design in Germany. Bashar’s third-year thesis on knee amputations led him to explore designs within the medical field, where his knowledge of design allows him to create innovations for change.
“Change requires problem solvers, designers and thinkers. Inscape Exchange provides a solution that results in educating the problem solvers of the future and potentially alleviating the crisis,” Helen says.
Being part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation profiled institutions, Inscape has the opportunity to grow and foster the next generation of changemakers. This partnership opens up new avenues for South African designers to mobilise the transition to a circular economy and build a better future.
Inscape has several campuses nationwide, offering a variety of courses across different aspects of design. Registration is open until 28th February for applications. Check out their course catalogue on their website here.
- Images via Inscape.
- Inscape sponsored the Retail Category of the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards 2021 which was won by AKJP Studio.
