A wide range of collaborative activities between South Africa’s Nelson Mandela University and the University of Oldenburg in August and September demonstrates the close cooperation between the two institutions on various projects in the field of educational sciences. Karsten Speck, who had been in South Africa since early August as an ambassador for the co-operation with Nelson Mandela University and as part of the University of Oldenburg’s official delegation (https://uol.de/aktuelles/artikel/wie-nach-hause-kommen-11888 ), held a large number of collaborative discussions and workshops with colleagues on the ground. One of the highlights in mid-August was a programme for teachers on how climate change and gender equality can be integrated into school curricula in a contextualised and locally relevant manner. The event brought together over 100 teachers, lecturers, students and pupils at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha to work with the German, Tanzanian, Ugandan and Kenyan guests on methods and approaches for better integrating these topics into individual school subjects and across the curriculum, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Afterwards, the book 'Education Research in African Contexts - Traditions and New Beginnings for Knowledge and Impact'(https://www.africanminds.co.za/education-research/ ), which was produced as part of the CERM-ESA project, was presented in a festive setting. Muki Moeng, Vice President for Academic Affairs, thanked the project leaders, including Susan Kurgat & Anne Kisilu from Moi University, Eugenia Kafanabo, Pius Yanda and Nkuba Shelembi from the University of Dar es Salaam, Paul Webb, Mathabo Khau, Heloise Sathorar and Ayanda Simayi from Nelson Mandela University, Proscovia Namubiru from the Uganda Management Institute, and Karsten Speck, Bernd Siebenhüner and Malve v. Möllendorff from Oldenburg, for their dedicated cooperation at the end of various projects.

To round off their visit to South Africa, Karsten Speck and Anne Clausen, together with colleagues from the research funding department at Nelson Mandela University, ran a two-day training course for early-career researchers on securing funding for international research projects.

Exciting activities are also taking place here: from 22 August to 20 September, Dr Belinda du Plooy, a senior manager at Nelson Mandela University’s Engagement Unit, will be visiting the Research Methods Section and will, amongst other things, be leading a workshop on the topic ‘Higher Education Engagement – an African Perspective on the Third Mission of Universities’.