The Learning Network for Sustainable energy system - An open ethos to promote the innovative approach of System Design for Sustainable Energy for All

Abstract: This paper presents the Learning Network on Sustainable energy systems (LeNSes) project, an African-European multi-polar network of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for curricula development on system design for sustainable energy for all. The project, funded by the EU commission (2013-2016, Edulink Programme), involves four African and three European universities of design. The paper firstly introduces the LeNSes open and copy left ethos for knowledge development and diffusion in HEIs of design; this approach assumes and reinforces the one already promoted by the LeNS, the Learning Network on Sustainability, funded few years ago by the EU commission (2007-2010, Asialink Programme). That network has been the initiator of several other regional HEIs networks, among which the LeNS china. Secondly it is described the research working hypothesis, being at the base the recently awarded LeNSes project, for which Product-Service System (PSS) design a promising approach when applied to Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE), being the latter a key leverage for the transition towards a sustainable society.