Towards A Regional Collaboration – Regional Workshop Held on Establishment of a Twin Institute of UNU-FLORES as a Hub for the Region

06-08 May 2013, Maputo. The Regional Workshop on establishment of a Twin institute of UNU-FLORES as a hub for the region was organized by UNU-FLORES in close cooperation with University Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), Dresden University of Technology (TUD) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT) of Mozambique. Participating regional stakeholders represented 19 universities and organizations from 14 countries (Botswana, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Yemen, Zimbabwe) in Africa. The workshop had the following objectives:

• Identify regional partners for the twin in Maputo and define their role in joint activities;
• Building a network in research and education for the Twin Institute of UNU-FLORES in the region;
• Conceptualize potential joint research activities within the network (topics and suitable regions for case studies);
• Work out a concept for a MSc programme of UNU-FLORES, Maputo considering the joint study programme of UNU-FLORES, Dresden and TUD.

In addition, a student seminar was integrated, in which students enrolled in postgraduate programmes of UEM and TUD analyzed and compared available study programmes related to the topic of UNU-FLORES and worked out required components of a curriculum on integrated management of environmental resources.

The workshop succeeded in identifying four research projects in Africa and defining the required contribution of involved partners. These initiatives will be followed immediately by the established research consortia. Among other activities on capacity development, the concept for a joint MSc programme on integrated management of water, soil and waste was discussed. A currently worked-out concept of a joint programme of UNU-FLORES, Dresden and TUD may serve as a blueprint which can be modified according to the needs and the legislative and administrative framework of the region. Available postgraduate study programmes of UEM and regional partners were introduced and may cover various aspects of the required curriculum. The student seminar

• gave evidence that the capacity to host the programme is available in the region,
• confirmed and complemented the identified required components of a curriculum on integrated management of environmental resources and
• identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the planned programme (SWOT analysis).

Overall, the workshop demonstrated the strong interest in cooperation with UNU-FLORES in the region and the clear commitment of Mozambique to host a twin institute.