AG International Projects
The International Projects working group realises international projects, educational opportunities and collaborations under the motto "Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences is becoming more international".
What is the International Projects Working Group?
Building on HSWT's many years of experience in international university cooperation, the International Projects Working Group was founded in 2025. The working group combines the previous activities of the HSWT International School, which existed from 2020 to 2024, with the ongoing and newly acquired international projects and networking activities of the HSWT.
The task of the International Projects Working Group is to initiate and further develop partnerships with international universities and turn them into sustainable university networks. It acts as a source of ideas, facilitator and moderator for research and development projects within these networks.
The working group is also involved in the initiation and implementation of international knowledge transfer as well as international further and continuing education.
Strategy: How the International Projects working group works
A place for ideas and their realisation. The International Projects WG responds to the high international demand for application-oriented academic training, applied research and knowledge transfer as well as further education in the fields of green life sciences, especially in agri-food systems.
In its work, the International Projects Working Group focuses on the following areas, among others:
- Initiating, expanding and coordinating international partnerships between universities of applied sciences, research institutions and companies.
- Strategic planning of the internationalisation of the HSWT, including the development of regional networks and the organisation of various cooperation platforms and networking events.
- Conducting international training and capacity-building measures, e.g. on sustainable agriculture, digitalisation in the agricultural sector, value chains, food safety, etc.
- Knowledge transfer with a strong focus on practical elements along the entire value chain - from Agriculture production to processing and consumption.
- Acquisition and coordination of EU and internationally funded projects, e.g. Erasmus+, Horizon Europe or government-funded development projects.
- The establishment and development of degree programmes at international partner universities with a strong application-oriented focus, including practical semesters. One example of this is the Master's degree programme in International Farm Management.
An overriding goal in defining the main areas of work is to contribute to the economic and social development of the partner countries in co-operation with the partner universities of the HSWT.
Ongoing projects & initiatives for knowledge transfer
The International Projects working group realises international projects, educational opportunities and collaborations under the motto "Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences is becoming more international".
- FAMFISK - Fostering Agricultural Machinery & Food Technology in Senegal & Kenya
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The aim of the joint project between HSWT, the Maschinenring Foundation and the Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft is to enable Senegalese and Kenyan universities to support the establishment and expansion of machinery rings in Senegal and Kenya. The project is funded by the Bavarian State Chancellery.
- Green Futures: Capacity and Cooperation for Transforming Agriculture
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The main objective of the Green Futures project is to strengthen and support marginalised groups in the agricultural sector in southern Africa through knowledge transfer and capacity development. The target groups are women, young and smallholder farmers and university students, taking into account gender and role sensitivity. The beneficiary countries of the project in Southern Africa include Zambia and South Africa.
- HAW.International
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The HAW.International project serves to expand the international study and training programmes offered by the HSWT.
- Sustainable Trade Regimes with Europe and Africa through Mapping Innovation, New-technology and Growth-mindset (STREAMING)
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The project develops strategies for fair, healthy and sustainable food systems in Africa to promote youth employment and bridge the gap between research and practice. Through innovation centres, networks, training and policy recommendations, it supports entrepreneurs, researchers, students and farmers in introducing sustainable technologies and improving the African food trade.
Chronicle of the HSWT International School
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2025
- The "International Projects" working group is established. This working group combines the previous experience and activities of the project team and the HSWT International School, which was active from 2020 to 2024, with the existing and newly initiated international projects and networks of the HSWT.
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2024
- As part of the "Back to farmers" conference, 160 guests from Ethiopia, the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Togo, Uganda and Germany travelled to Triesdorf. Previous results from the "Training Pact with Africa" and the "Technology and Application Pact" were presented and at the end of the conference, the participants drew up an agreement for future cooperation.
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2023
- January: 17 DAAD alumni at the HSWT in Triesdorf on the topic of "Strengthening food security in DAC countries through sustainable Agriculture and improved value chain management" as part of the DAAD Special Alumni Project for the International Green Week.
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2022
- January: Start of the project HSWT goes international: Internationalising best practices, supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), short title: HAW.International
- May: Visit to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) and the Yunus Enviornonment Hub team in Kenya as well as Arsi University and Hawassa University in Ethiopia by representatives:innen of the projects Training Pact with Africa (AmA), Technology and Application Pact (TAP), HAW.International and the Food Startup Incubator Weihenstephan (FSIWS)
- May: Start of the fifth postgraduate course in Triesdorf
- June: Meeting with Mahmoud Zouaoui, Head of Cabinet of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the management of the DAAD office in Tunis and visit to the Université de Tunis El Manar, Université de Carthage and Université de Gabès in Tunisia as part of the African-Bavarian Alliance for Applied Life Sciences, Technology and Application Pact (TAP) and HAW.International projects.
- June: Visit to Khon Kaen University in Thailand as part of the HAW.International project
- October: 24 DAAD alumni visit the HSWT in Triesdorf on the topic of "Improved use of natural resources in developing countries" as part of the DAAD Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) alumni projects
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2021
- January: Conclusion of cooperation agreement between South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) and HSWT
- February: Acceptance for the DAAD project TOMATO - Harnessing of Efficient Vegetable and Fruit Production, Processing and Marketing Systems in Ethiopia through Practice Based Education and Participatory Research
- May: Start of the fourth postgraduate course as an online event
- July/August: Participants of the postgraduate courses 2020/2021 for practical phase in Triesdorf
- October: Start of the new English-language Master's degree programme in International Farm Management (MFM)
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2020
- Foundation of HSWT International School
- February: Visit to partner universities in Ethiopia and Kenya to present the International Master in Agricultural Management programme
- May: Digital seminar room set up for online teaching for 25 African participants of the postgraduate course due to the coronavirus crisis
- August: Digital kick-off event for the Technology and Application Pact with Africa together with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
- September: Postgraduate course graduate George Opare Asare from Ghana receives an award at the International Tropentag Conference for his project idea for marketing cashew apples
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2019
- February: Launch of the Ukrainian Farm Management Data (UFMD) project
- May: Kick-off event for the training pact with Africa with German Development Minister Dr Gerd Müller
- May: Start of the second postgraduate course
- September/October: Visit to universities of applied sciences in Kenya and Ethiopia by a HSWT delegation to establish university partnerships
- November: International Rector's Conference International Future Day, conclusion of numerous international cooperation agreements
- December: Presentation of International Master in Agricultural Management at Arsi University in Ethiopia
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2018
- May: Start of the first postgraduate course
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2017
- September: Signing of an agreement between the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the HSWT to promote young talent from Africa and research projects for Africa by Federal Development Minister Dr Gerd Müller
- October: Start of the Theoretical-Oriented to Practical Eduation in Agrarian Studies (TOPAS) project
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2015
- Start of the UNESCO Global Action Programme Education for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) - Agenda 2030 of the United Nations, coverage with teaching and research portfolio of HSWT and thus basis for the internationalisation strategy HSWT goes international
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2014
- Start of the Global Project Green Innovation Centres in the Agriculture and Food Sector (GIAE) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as a later basis for the promotion of the training pact with Africa by GIZ
