Final SDG Project Stakeholder Workshop: Advancing Biodiversity Education, Research and Field-Based Learning

The SDG Partnership between Makerere University (Uganda), Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and the Central University of Technology (South Africa), will successfully complete a project that began in 2023. The Project aimed to strengthen education and research capacity for biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management. The project was supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) through its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Partnerships Program.

Makerere-CAES-2

The partnership focused on innovative teaching, field-based learning, international academic exchange, and collaborative research. A major achievement was the implementation of joint graduate field courses at Kibale National Park in Uganda in 2024 and 2025. The courses brought together students from Makerere University and Rhine-Waal University, giving participants practical experience in biodiversity research, data collection, conservation planning, teamwork, and intercultural collaboration.

The project also strengthened teaching capacity through training in innovative and digital teaching methods, the development of real-world case studies, and improved academic infrastructure. Several students were able to build on their field experiences to develop postgraduate research projects addressing contemporary conservation challenges, including human-wildlife coexistence.

The project concluded with a dissemination workshop at Makerere University on 31 July 2026, where partners reflected on achievements and identified priorities for sustaining collaboration. Participants emphasized the importance of expanding field-based learning, strengthening academia–industry partnerships, integrating community perspectives into conservation, using digital technologies, and generating research that can inform policy and practice.

The partnership demonstrates the value of international collaboration in preparing the next generation of conservation professionals and strengthening the capacity of universities to address biodiversity and sustainable development challenges.

Photos © Makerere University