Cross-Continental Collaboration for Sustainable
Housing: rise International Leads Student Research Project with NTU, NUL & LP
As part of its ongoing commitment to promoting sustainable construction, inclusive education, and international cooperation, rise International recently coordinated a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project that brought together students from Nottingham Trent University (UK), National University of Lesotho (NUL), and Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP).
The project, which ran from 25 February to 1 April 2025, focused on the Analysis of Building Materials in Lesotho for Affordable Housing—a topic of critical importance in addressing Lesotho’s growing need for low-cost, sustainable housing solutions.
A Unique Model of Global Collaboration
COIL is a globally recognized teaching and learning methodology that connects students and educators across borders. In this project, rise facilitated the formation of six interdisciplinary and cross-cultural student groups, each tasked with conducting a comparative assessment of building materials used in Lesotho.
Each institution brought unique expertise to the collaboration:
- Economics students from the National University of Lesotho (NUL) conducted cost analyses of different building materials and methods, assessing affordability for low-income households.
- Architecture students from Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP) evaluated the social impacts of construction materials, considering aspects such as community acceptance, safety, and cultural relevance.
- Environmental students from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) examined the ecological footprint of local materials, evaluating their sustainability and long-term environmental impact.
This multidisciplinary approach allowed for a holistic understanding of the materials commonly used in the Lesotho construction sector—from conventional cement and brick to alternative materials such as Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks (ICEBs) and sandbag technology.
Empowering the Next Generation of Changemakers
The project offered students an opportunity not only to expand their technical knowledge, but also to develop vital soft skills including cross-cultural communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
“Working with peers from different disciplines and countries opened our eyes to new perspectives,” shared one of the participating students. “It helped us think more critically and creatively about housing challenges in Lesotho.”
Through weekly online meetings, digital collaboration tools, and final presentations, students were able to share their findings with peers and lecturers across the three institutions. The presentations revealed diverse insights, ranging from the economic viability of alternative materials to the environmental trade-offs of traditional construction methods.
Aligning with Rise’s Mission
At rise International, we believe that affordable housing and sustainable construction are key to uplifting communities and driving economic growth. This project reflects our core values by:
- Promoting knowledge exchange between local and international institutions.
- Encouraging innovation in the built environment.
- Empowering students to become active contributors to social and environmental change.
We are proud to have facilitated this meaningful collaboration and look forward to building on these relationships to continue advancing sustainable development in Lesotho and beyond.
What’s Next?
The outcomes of the project will inform ongoing discussions on sustainable housing in Lesotho, and rise is currently exploring opportunities to scale the collaboration further—potentially turning some of the research into pilot projects, policy briefs, or technical workshops for stakeholders in the housing and construction sectors.
