Since 2012, the programme University-Business-Partnerships between Higher Education Institutions and Business Partners in Germany and in Africa has supported practice-oriented degree programmes relevant to the labour market that are cutting-edge and suit the local context.

Background

The programme of "Universitiy-Business Partnership Programme" is intended to promote in particular this transfer of knowledge between higher education institutions and the industry in order to contribute to the interlinking of institutions of higher education and the industry and to expand the dialogue. In the medium term, the programme contributes to ensuring that higher education is better adapted to the requirements and developments of the labour market. The transfer of knowledge between university and industry is to be promoted so that graduates are better able to meet the requirements and trends of the labour market. Within the framework of the funded partnerships, sustainable structures of cooperation between the participating institutions and economic partners are to be established.
In the context of the Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition", the Programme shall contribute to the strengthening of the work-based approach to higher education in the following countries and thematic areas relevant to the Special Initiative:

• Egypt: Industry 4.0, Agribusiness, Renewable Energies, Logistics, Engineering, Sustainable Urban Development, Water Management
• Ethiopia: Agribusiness, Renewable Energies, Food Processing Industry, Logistics, Engineering, Textile Industry, Water Management
• Ivory Coast: Biotechnology, Information and communication technology/ technology (incl. renewable energies and energy efficiency), Logistics, Engineering, Water Management, Agricultural Sciences
• Ghana: Agribusiness/Food Processing Industry, Waste Sector, Automotive Industry, Renewable Energies, Logistics, Engineering, Water management, Governance/Law
• Morocco: Automotive Industry, Agro-food Industry, Renewable Energies, Logistics, Engineering, Water Management, Information and Communication Technology
• Rwanda: Economics, Renewable Energies, Logistics, Engineering, Water Management, Information and Communication Technology, Creative Industry/Film, Sustainable Urban Development, Mobility Concepts (incl. Electromobility), Economics/Statistics, Tourism
• Senegal: Agribusiness/Food Processing Industry, Information and communication technology/ digital economy, Renewable Energies, Logistics, Engineering, Water Management
• Tunisia: Automotive Industry, Digital Economy, Renewable Energies, Logistics, Aviation, Engineering, Water Management, Textile, Tourism

By bridging the gap between the more theoretical higher education and the practice-oriented economy in these fields, more well-qualified graduates will be available for the labour market in the countries concerned, which will have a positive effect on the investment climate in the medium term.

The current call for proposals is pending the approval of the funds by the BMZ.

Supported by: