MAINSTREAM brings together six higher education institutions (HEIs) from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Togo, and Senegal, along with one from Germany. These institutions focus on agriculture through various programs, including agribusiness, sustainable agriculture, and natural resources management. The African HEIs are the primary focus of project activities, benefiting from the expertise of the German HEI, which will share its knowledge on internationalization, mobility, and climate change. This collaboration aims to enhance capacity building and achieve the project’s goals.
The African HEIs include:
1. MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON UNIVERSITY (MMU)
One of the core needs of the faculty is to foster knowledge exchange among partners both within Uganda and Africa at large to enhance South-South shared learning and exchange of ideas, especially in the area of interactive teaching that is learner-centred and practice-oriented as most suitable for agricultural and environmental sciences. Such exposure can bring added value, especially in the area of agricultural farm management.
2. JARAMOGI OGINGA ODINGA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (JOOUST)
Despite the institution having a Training and Development policy in place, no internationalisation strategy has been devised. There have been challenges constraining successful implementation. These are not limited to unequal opportunities for all staff members, inadequate financial support, infrastructural challenges in terms of lab space and equipment, materials and equipment for the staff and students to use digital materials to enable smooth e-learning processes.
3. ARSI UNIVERSITY
The university works to address gender equity, in particular women empowerment across all academics, research and community outreach engagements. For instance, one among the top managements level for administration vice president position is female. Yet, at college and department levels women participations should be enhanced. Gender issues are among the core pillar of the university strategy. At least 50% female mobility candidates will be women.
4. UNIVERSITY OF SINE SALOUM EL-HÂDJ IBRAHIMA NIASS (USSEIN)
There is an increasing need for interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity when approaching scientific issues and/or solving societal problems. At the teaching staff level, women represent 26% and 31% of support and service staff. In the field of management, USSEIN is headed by a woman who is its Rector as well as 2 heads of department, 2 heads of administrative services and heads of central services.
Teachers needs include but are not limited to: laboratories, ICT equipment, capacity building. Students with disabilities, but also students coming from deep rural areas need to be allowed to fully integrate in the learning process. Their conditions need to be improved by gaining access to ICT, virtual and paper library, buses to commute, etc.
6. UNIVERSITY OF FREE STATE (UFS)
The project is aligned with UFS Internationalisation Strategy 2018-202211 that needs further updating under this proposal Policy Framework for the Internationalisation of Higher Education in South Africa.12 UFS major expertise is in climate smart agriculture, circular economy and Agri-entrepreneurship.
7. UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES WEIHENSTEPHAN-TRIESDORF (HSWT)
The University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (HSWT) in Bavaria, Germany, specializes in applied life sciences. It offers practical education in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food technology, environmental engineering, and landscape architecture. HSWT emphasizes sustainability and innovation, combining hands-on training with theoretical knowledge to prepare students for professional careers. The university’s close ties with industry and research institutions provide students with valuable internship and project opportunities.
The Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme is EU’s programme to encourage international learning mobility across the African continent. The programme provides support for consortia of African Higher Education Institutions and scholarship opportunities for African trainees, students and staff.
The Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme is part of the Youth Mobility for Africa flagship initiative which aims to support learning opportunities and exchanges and ultimately to promote Africa as an attractive study destination.