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UOL's ambassador for the Nelson Mandela University
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2025
New publication
A publication resulting from the CERM-ESA project was presented during a visit by Oldenburgs NMU ambassador, Prof Karsten Speck, at Mandela University. "Education Research in African Contexts - Traditions and New Beginnings of Knowledge and Impact" is now available as a result of the successful cooperation between lecturers from Moi University (Kenya), the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Mandela University and the University of Oldenburg.
Joint workshop on research funding
On 18 and 19 August, UOL's ambassador for Nelson Mandela University, Prof Karsten Speck, and research officer Dr Anne Clausen were guests in Gqeberha for a workshop on research funding.
The two-day programme was aimed at mid-level academics in the Mandela Imvuselelo Professorial Programme (MIPP) and dealt with the funding landscape in South Africa, Germany and the EU, the advantages and disadvantages of peer reviews, third-party funding for academic leaders, mobility opportunities in Germany and Europe and the practical implementation of (project)ideas in competitive proposals.
UOL | NMU Boardmeeting 2025
Marine science, education, and staff and student exchange are among the key areas of cooperation between the Nelson Mandela University and the University of Oldenburg. At last week's annual board meeting in Gqeberha, the partners took the opportunity to review existing collaborations and envisage future paths.
Visit from South Africa
On 11 June, Prof. Dalena van Rooyen, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Nelson Mandela University, was a guest at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Oldenburg. The visit included fruitful talks with the Dean, Prof Hans Gerd Nothwang, on the development of the cooperation and with Prof Rebecca Palm on concrete plans for cooperation in the field of nursing.
Workshop "Resilience and Sustainability for Smart Cities and Education"
In March, Prof Jorge Marx Gómez (Faculty II), Prof Ines Oldenburg and Prof Clemens Hillenbrand (both Faculty I) visited Nelson Mandela University for a workshop on "Resilience and Sustainability for Smart Cities and Education" lasting several days. The project was supported by the funding programme between the University of Oldenburg and Nelson Mandela University.
2024
Inspiration through exchange
The CERM-ESA education research project, which cooperates with several universities like Nelson Mandela University, brings students from African countries and researchers from Oldenburg together. Two participants talk about their experiences – and about how their time in Oldenburg has inspired their research.
Successful writing workshop in Gqeberha with Oldenburg participation
In November, Prof Karsten Speck (Faculty I) and Dr Anne Clausen (R Research and Transfer) could visit Mandela University for a workshop on the topic "How to write successful research funding proposals". During the visit, many projects by young researchers at Mandela University were analysed and discussed. In particular, the workshop aimed to improve the application skills with regard to the precarious contractual situations of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in the South African university context in order to enable researchers in early career phases to pursue more independent academic career paths.
DAAD Winter School "Empowering Teachers - Empowering Students"
The Winter School of the DAAD project "Lehramt.International" will also take place in 2024. From 18-22 November, interested students will have the opportunity to attend interactive seminars on the topic of "Empowering Teachers - Empowering Students".
Project extension until 2029: Internationalising teacher education
Providing future teachers with intercultural training for current challenges in the classroom and making their education more international overall - the University of Oldenburg and foreign partners have been working towards this goal since 2019 with a joint project in the "Lehramt.International" programme. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is supporting the project until the end of 2029 with up to 620,000 euros from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In addition to the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (Netherlands) and Nelson Mandela University (South Africa), the NHL Stenden Hogeschool in Leeuwarden has been another partner with a focus on teacher training since last year.
Visit in Oldenburg
Prof Judy Peter has been Senior Director of the International Office at Mandela University since July 2024. In September, she visited our campus for the first time with her colleague Dr John Mashayamombe. In addition to various meetings, both guests were welcomed by Prof Ralph Bruder and Prof Katharina Al-Shamery from the Presidential Board. The Head of the International Office, Jenka Schmidt, and Judy Peter were able to use the visit to advance further topics and projects on the roadmap until 2028.
UOL | NMU Boardmeeting 2024
The first (digital) board meeting with both university managements took place on 8 August. President Prof Bruder and his South African counterpart, Prof André Keet, began the meeting by providing information on current developments at both institutions. A comprehensive report on the joint activities illustrated the positive development of the partnership since the cooperation anniversary in 2023. The meeting concluded with an exchange on further funding opportunities and upcoming activities.
Project insight: CERM-ESA
University research that strengthens educational science as a subject and has a direct impact on the education system in East Africa – this is the aim of the CERM-ESA project. The University of Oldenburg conducted an interview with the project coordinator, Dr Malve von Möllendorff, in which Nelson Mandela University is also involved.
Internationalising Teacher Edcuation: Lunch Time Talks 2024
The new edition of the Lunch Time Talks starts on 22 May with an exciting lecture on the question of what makes internationally competent teachers.
It continues with impulses from the didactics of English, a comparative look at the role of self-confidence in teachers and diversity in the training of music teachers.
Interested parties are cordially invited to log on to https://webconf.uol.de/b/tin-pbp-aw7-k7u
2023
Winter School for student teachers
This year's winter school of the DAAD project Lehramt.International will take place on three different days in three different countries. Thanks to its hybrid format, many student teachers will be able to participate.
The Winter School addresses diversity in teacher education through the concept of critical competencies, i.e. the ability to understand the dynamics of (re)production of e.g. linguistic, cultural, gender or socio-economic differences in the classroom and beyond. To participate, please register here.
Research Week 2023
From 11 to 15 September, Nelson Mandela University hosted its annual Research Week. The university welcomed 457 participants and, in addition to 21 exhibition stands, offered an impressive programme with a variety of experts from different academic fields.
The University of Oldenburg was represented by Ilka Carstens and Dr Anne Clausen from the Department. for Research and Technology Transfer. The focus of their participation in Gqeberha was on talks with the different schools on research cooperation and research stays by South African academics, as well as the presentation of funding opportunities for a stay in Oldenburg.
25 Jahre cooperation Nelson Mandela University / University of Oldenburg
As Nelson Mandela University and the University of Oldenburg looked back on 25 years of successful collaboration from 26 to 30 June 2023, a delegation from South Africa led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sibongile Muthwa came to Oldenburg to take part in the celebration.
Further information and impressions can be found here.