This week, the Department of Economics at Mainz University of Applied Sciences is welcoming, for the second time, a group of master’s students from its partner university, United States International University Africa (USIU-Africa) in Nairobi, Kenya. The visit is part of a reciprocal exchange program: In September, a group of students from Mainz will travel to Kenya to further deepen academic and intercultural exchange.
USIU-Africa is one of five African partner universities with which Mainz University of Applied Sciences collaborates as part of the DAAD-funded “SDG Partnerships” program. The network also includes Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, INES University in Rwanda, and the two Ugandan universities, Kyambogo University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology. The goal of the partnership is to strengthen international knowledge transfer, promote intercultural competencies, and jointly contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During their stay, the students from Nairobi can look forward to a diverse program that combines academic, practical business, and cultural perspectives. On campus, the program includes lectures and workshops on finance, creating shared value, and intercultural competence. The academic program is complemented by visits to companies and institutions such as Merck, the ETA-Fabrik, the Deutsche Bundesbank, and Henkell Freixenet. Guest lectures by Manuela Pastore of Boehringer Ingelheim on social impact and by Berno Birker of the DAAD on international cooperation opportunities provide additional insights into social responsibility and global university collaboration.
Cultural exchange is also a key focus: visits to the MEWA ARENA and excursions to Mainz, Rüdesheim, and Eberbach Abbey allow guests to explore the region, its history, and its economic diversity.
The “SDG Partnerships” program of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports the sustainable development of teaching, research, and academic exchange between German universities and institutions of higher education in the Global South. At the Department of Economics at Mainz University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Claudia Hensel has been developing and coordinating cooperation with African partner universities for many years. This coming fall, she will travel to Kenya together with students from the department to further expand the partnership with USIU-Africa.
The visit by students from Nairobi highlights the importance of international university partnerships for the education of globally minded professionals and leaders. Through joint courses, personal encounters, and practical insights, networks are formed that extend far beyond individual exchange programs and make an important contribution to international understanding and sustainable development.
