Network Latin America: Challenges & Solutions
In the Network Latin America, partners from Latin America and Germany work together with the aim of contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The major challenges in Latin America - where applied education and research are essential - include in particular:
- Adaptation to climate change impacts, such as the increased occurrence of extreme climate events,
- a growing population and, associated with this, an increasing and changing demand for food,
- high pressure on land resources and associated land degradation,
- increasing conflicts between small-scale agriculture and large-scale agribusinesses,
- as well as political and social instabilities.
The production of agricultural products and the associated value chains are an important component of economic development in Latin America. In addition, topics such as (sustainable) land, water, energy and resource use are becoming increasingly important.
The HSWT offers unique potential for networking as well as knowledge exchange and transfer with Latin American universities and research institutions. The University of Applied Sciences achieves this potential through its consistent focus on engineering courses in the field of life sciences and the comprehensive practice-oriented teaching and research according to the guiding principle "Applied Sciences for Life". This makes an important contribution to the knowledge society and to sustainable agricultural and socio-ecological development in Latin America.
In the long term, the Network Latin America aims to strengthen partnership building and cooperation with Latin American universities of applied sciences and research institutions, and to support the networking of university members with regard to Latin America. The goals of the Network Latin America are directly linked to the internationalisation strategy "HSWT goes International" of the University of Applied Sciences.
The Network Latin America in Figures
Partnerships
We work together with these universities and institutes of Latin American nations:
- Argentina
-
-
2015:Universidad Nacional de Salta(Environmental Engineering)
-
- Brazil
-
-
2016: Instituto Federal Catarinense(All departments)
-
2018: Universidade Federal de Itajuba (UNIFEI) (All departments)
-
Embrapa Cerrados(Research Institutions)
-
- Chile
-
-
2010: Universidad de Talca (UTALCA) (Biotechnology, Agriculture Weihenstephan, Horticulture, Forestry)
-
- Cuba
-
2023: Universidad de Matanzas (UM) (International Master in Agricultural Management)
- Dominican Republic
-
-
1999: Universidad ISA(Horticulture, Engineering in Forestry)
-
- Mexico
-
-
2014: Universidad de Guadalajara(All departments)
-
- Paraguay
-
-
2009: Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA) (International Master in Agricultural Management)
-
2009: Universidad San Carlos (USC) (International Master in Agricultural Management)
-
Chronicle
Three professors from the Universidad de Matanzas in Cuba take part in the IMA Network Rectors' Conference in Triesdorf and also visit the Weihenstephan campus as part of their visit.
Two professors from the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira in Colombia visit the HSWT and give a guest lecture in the Horticulture degree programme on the subject of "Fruit production in Colombia".
Prof. Dominikus Kittemann and Dr. Garbiel Dorta travel to the Universidad de Matanzas (UM) in Cuba and sign a cooperation agreement focusing on the International Master in Agricultural Management.
HSWT welcomes a delegation of professors and lecturers from the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) in Brazil. The visit was accompanied by representatives of BAYLAT.
Digital workshops and networking meetings are held with universities of applied sciences in Cuba and Costa Rica.
The Network Latin America is founded.
The Bavarian-Latin American Alliance for Applied Life Sciences project, funded by the Bavarian University Centre for Latin America (BAYLAT), is launched.
The ambassador and the embassy counsellor of the Republic of Cuba visit the HSWT campuses in Triesdorf and Weihenstephan together with the managing director of BAYLAT.
Prof. Dominikus Kittemann gives lectures at the InterUni Congress of the Instituto Federal Catarinense in Brazil.
Starting in 2020, virtual Climate Talks will be held annually as part of the lecture series of the international Master's programme Climate Change Management with speakers from Latin America, among other countries.
The initiation project "Development of an approach to manage ecological soil functions through grass cover using the example of Risaralda avocado cultivation in Colombia" starts.
A cooperation agreement is signed by Prof. Dr. Carsten Lorz (HSWT) and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim (CATIE) in Costa Rica. Representatives from CATIE visit the HSWT campus in Weihenstephan.
Prof. Dominikus Kittemann and Prof. Carsten Lorz visit the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira in Colombia for a technical exchange within the framework of a research project.
Guest lecturer Prof. Cláudio Keske from Brazil gives a guest lecture on Brazilian Horticulture and the presentation of the University of Applied Sciences Rio do Sul at the HSWT.
Dr Silvan Flores Larsen from the Universidad Nacional de Salta in Argentina visits the HSWT for a scientific exchange in the field of building simulation.
A summer school is held with Prof. Dr. Vanessa Silbeira Barreto Carvalho (UNIFEI, Brazil) and Dr. Helmut Eger (GIZ) on the topic of "Climate Change in Latin America".
The research project "Environmental Resource Management and Renewable Energies" with the Universidade Federal de Itajuba in Brazil starts.
Prof. Andreas Ratka completes a research stay at the Universidad Nacional de Salta in Argentina. A cooperation agreement is concluded with the Argentine University of Applied Sciences.
Prof. Carsten Lorz completes a research semester at the Universidade de Brasília on the topic of "Ecosystem Services in the Cerrado Biom".
The research project REHA-CERRADO "Rehabilitation concepts for degraded soils in the Cerrado biome, Brazil - analysis and recommendations" starts.
IMLA graduate Natalia Vergara from Colombia receives a BDLA Award on the topic of "Wetland El Burro".
The research project "Development of a process to use waste materials from coffee production for the production of a novel biofuel" with the Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina and the State University of Feira de Santana in Brazil starts.
The LUNAR working group is founded under the management of Prof. Carsten Lorz.
A cooperation agreement is concluded with the Universidad San Carlos in Paraguay with a focus on the International Master in Agricultural Management.