Academic cooperation on sustainable, climate-smart agriculture between Zambia and Norway

Academic cooperation on sustainable, climate-smart agriculture between Zambia and Norway

Sustainable Development Goals

Climate change and large-scale soil degradation are among the major problems limiting food production in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the last decade, research has made important contributions to the development of more sustainable production methods and climate-smart innovations. However, novel methods and innovations may have limitations and are often associated with uncertainties, and prudent strategies are required to address them. It is important that new insights are integrated in the curricula and that critical senses are sharpened at institutions of higher education, where the agricultural experts of tomorrow are being trained. In the proposed project, coordinated by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and the University of Zambia (UNZA), we strengthen our long-term partnership in research by including important educational aspects. Novel elements of sustainable and climate-smart agriculture will be incorporated in the curricula of existing graduate programs at both universities. In addition, a summer school will be developed, with assistance and guest lectures of our network partners (CFU and NGI). Mobility of students (MSc and PhD) and staff, in both directions, is a major element of the proposed project, improving the quality of the programs and contributing to their international character. The practical dimension of the project is strengthened through student placements in Zambia (at CFU) and in Norway (at NGI). Ongoing research activities, involving all four network partners, is an asset for the development of MSc and PhD projects. During the program two summer schools will be organized at UNZA, with international participation (2018 and 2020).

More information

https://espresso.siu.no/projects/;jsessionid=19tj6vr4wd9gq1x4xlrs2qaequ?0