HAMK in Africa
Partnerships for education, research and innovation
HAMK is building knowledge and competence together with African universities and partners.
In this age of globalisation, there is a great need for collaboration, new ideas and innovations, and shared resources. Häme University of Applied Sciences is actively involved in international cooperation in education and research, which will shape the future of the world. Collaboration with African partners has an impact on all HAMK’s levels:
- Collaborative research is the tool for producing solutions suitable for local realities to create jobs and wealth. Collaborative research will also lead to sustainable development and climate change mitigation.
- Students are in the centre of all we do. Students at HAMK as well as at African partner universities will have possibilities to enhance their international competences and to strengthen their global citizenship. Through HAMK’s collaboration in Africa, students will have more opportunities for short exchanges in multidisciplinary groups.
- Our staff also have opportunities to increase their global through teacher exchanges, both by visiting African partner universities and by welcoming colleagues from African countries to teach at HAMK.
- Development of sustainability and competence for Africa – experts gather at HAMK and Aalto University in September15.09.2022
- Building industry-university collaboration in Zambia13.04.2022
- HAMK students arrived to Zambia07.04.2022
- Big things happening in Kenya30.03.2022
- Co-creation and innovation program in Zambia20.02.2022
- Kick-off Event for the new Africa-related Student Projects 1.-2.2.202204.02.2022
- Student Info Session about Africa Projects gathered interest among students and staff03.02.2022
- The first Pilot Student Challenges successfully finished28.01.2022
- HAMK and Fida collaborating for accessible quality education in Kenya08.11.2021
- Research is needed in improving cocoa sustainability18.10.2021
HAMK’s ongoing projects in Africa
21st Forestry TVET-TZ
Active pedagogy and modernised professional skills in technical and vocational forestry education in Tanzania
The 21st Forestry TVET-TZ project advances Tanzanian forestry sector’s ecological, economical and social development through educational capacity building. The main focus is on promoting climate-smart, circular and sustainable forest resource management and forest sector entrepreneurship, employment and economic growth.
The project offers concrete support to strengthen Tanzanian forestry technical and vocational institutions’ (TVETs) and extension officers’ capacity to provide working life relevant and inclusive forestry education and training.
Duration: October/ 2022 – September / 2023
Funder: Indufor Oy / Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Finland
Budget: 154 904 €
Partners: Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), Forest Industries Training Institute (FITI), Forest Training Institute (FTI), Forestry and Wood Industries Training Centre (FWITC), Participatory Plantation Forestry Programme (PFP2)
AgriSCALE
AgriSCALE is a joint initiative for reforming agri-entrepreneurship education in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. The project includes real-life PBL cases for international student teams both online and in the field in Africa.
Duration: 2020–2023
Funded by: Erasmus+/EACEA
View project video (YouTube) and brochure (PDF)
AGS co-creation and innovation programme
The co-creation and innovation programme in Zambia empowers companies, universities, public sector, and individual citizens, to join an inclusive community that supports local SMEs.
Duration: 2021–2022
Funded by: AGS Programme (Accelerated Growth for SMEs in Zambia)
View or download the project brochure (PDF).
Cocoa business development
The Cocoa business development project is implemented in collaboration with the Kultasuklaa company and the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. The goal is to create a sustainable business model that provides a reasonable income level to the farmers and utilizes cocoa by-products in environmentally and socially sustainable ways. Team challenges of students from HAMK and UCC are one of the key methods for investigating the opportunities.
Duration: 2021–2022
Funded by: Finnpartnership
FOREST21
FOREST21 is a joint project for strengthening capacity in South African higher education in forestry entrepreneurship. Through curricula reformations and promoting student-centred learning and teaching, graduates will be equipped with 21st century skills to solve problems, create jobs and improve climate-smart forestry.
Duration: 2021–2024
Funded by: Erasmus+/EACEA
PBL-BioAfrica
PBL-BioAfrica is a collaborative project for strengthening the capacity of bioeconomy education and promoting PBL methods in Kenya and Zambia. A large number of students will be equipped with practical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset through team projects with real companies and NGOs. Promoting circular economy, climate-smart agriculture and gender equality are also in the heart of PBL-BioAfrica.
Duration: 10/2020–5/2024
Funded by: HEI ICI/Edufi/MFA (the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland)
View project brochure (PDF)
RAJO
Duration: 2021–2022
Funded by: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA)
Water Hyacinth Project
The water hyacinth Co-Creation project in Kenya examines different management and valorization options of water hyacinth biomass and their value chains. The alternative value chains are compared by different aspects: economical, societal and environmental. The main focus will be on the research needs and business potential for involved Finnish companies. During the Co-Creation phase local context will be analyzed, piloting sites in Kenya selected and a joint Co-Innovation project between consortium partners will be developed.
The project is coordinated by Häme University of Applied Sciences Bio Research Unit and implemented in collaboration with Finnish and Kenyan companies, Egerton University, ADRA Finland Foundation and Community Initiative for Development in Kenya.
Duration: 2022-2023
Funded by: Business Finland
Zambia for agroforestry, biodiversity and climate (Z4ABC)
Duration 4 years (48 months) April 2022-March 2026
Project is funded by EU: GCCA+/DeSIRA joint initiative on climate change & sustainable food systems
Global Sustainability Module – Join Field Work in Africa
Building a sustainable world – this is what Global Sustainability studies is about. Learn about intercultural communication and why we need to care about others’ cultures or beliefs. Learn to understand the global economic and socio-cultural processes connecting the rich and poor of the world. Learn about the global inequality challenges, discuss sustainable and respectful global development and link this to your own studies. As a HAMK student, you have an opportunity to deepen your experience through joining a real-life development project in Africa.
In total, we plan for 75 HAMK students to travel to our African partner countries between 2022–2024. Join our field challenges by taking Creating Sustainable Solutions/ Global sustainability course, open to all HAMK students.
Join our courses!
We offer three courses consisting of a full 15-credit module:
- Cross-cultural communication
- 5 ECTS, online
- It’s open in Learn, you can do it in your own time and schedule: https://learn.hamk.fi/course/view.php?id=9144
- Sustainable Society and Global Economy
- 5 ECTS, online
- It’s open in Learn, you can do it in your own time and schedule: https://learn.hamk.fi/course/view.php?id=10713
- Creating Sustainable Solutions
-
- 5 ECTS, field work in Africa or project work in Finland, https://learn.hamk.fi/enrol/index.php?id=11398
- This part is built around student challenge. In the student challenge, you learn in co-operation with multicultural teams. You will be a member of HAMK team of 5 students, and you will work in collaboration with student teams from African universities.
- If you are interested to join, write a motivational letter. Prior to field work, you first have to pass Cross-cultural communication 5 ECTS and Sustainable Society and Global Economy 5 ECTS -courses
- The HAMK projects will cover the flights, in-country travel, accommodation and the stay in the partner university. Students’ self-funding includes personal travel, insurances, vaccinations and visa costs.
NOTE: You don’t need to wait for the teachers approval in Pakki to start the courses.
Ongoing Student Challenges Projects
- 1. Matungu Youth Group_Kenya
- 2. Dairy Cooperative_Zambia
- 3. Organic fertiliser_Uganda
- 4. Multiple land-use in support of climate-smart natural resource management_South Africa
Before travelling, the international teams work online to familiarize themselves with the case. The field work in an African partner university is 14 days. International teams share ideas and develop innovative solutions to the identified challenges. In Student projects, each project team is mentored by the client organisation as well as a staff member of HAMK and partner universities.
After the field work, the teams can continue discussing together, analyzing their cases and finding possible alternative solutions to their challenge.
The global sustainability module is open to all HAMK students.
This is a great opportunity for real-life learning and experiences with students in Africa!
Global Sustainability Module structure
- HAMK students may register on Pakki (search by course names)
Do you have questions or need more information about the Global Sustainability course?
HAMK Sustainable Development Degree Programme
Nina Nygren, Lecturer
nina.nygren@hamk.fi
More information about the projects:
Teija Lehtonen, Senior Advisor, HAMK Bio
Tel. +358 400618 328
teija.lehtonen@hamk.fi
- Annukka Pakarinen
- Director, HAMK Bio Research Unit
- Tel. +358 503001 827
- annukka.pakarinen@hamk.fi
- Martti Majuri
- Director, HAMK Edu Research Unit
- Tel. +358 405879 883
- martti.majuri@hamk.fi
- Eija Laitinen
- Principal Research Scientist
- Tel. +358 505853 933
- eija.laitinen@hamk.fi
- Maaret Viskari
- Director, Global Education
- Tel. +358 505745 943
- maaret.viskari@hamk.fi
Blog
- The land where Mountains meet the SeaRead more
By Iida Taavela, Emma-Kaarina Uusitalo, Erja Eskelinen & Saara Junikka Our team consisting of 4 people plus our mentor left from Helsinki on 14th October and 24 hours later we were in George, […]
- STUDENT POST: Digitalizing Cooking in Rural AfricaRead more
We are pleased to introduce our student challenge in Zambia in this blog but first let’s introduce our team. We are four students representing HAMK in this collaborative challenge with Aalto, […]
- STUDENT POST: Our first impressionRead more
We are students in the Global Sustainability course and participating in the student project of Forest21, which is joint project for the strengthening capacity in South Africa higher education in […]
Ennen hiihtolomalle siirtymistä on hyvä palata vielä hetkeksi tiistaina Evolla järjestettyyn rinkelihiihtotapahtumaan. Tämä perinteinen metsäopetukseen liittyvä tapahtuma on koonnut retkihiihdon merkeissä niin opiskelijoita kuin henkilökuntaa nauttimaan Evon metsissä kulkevista laduista raikkaassa talvisäässä. Alla tunnelmakuvia taukopaikalta sekä matkan varrelta. #hamkbiotalous
Maksutonta AMK-koulutusta Ukrainalaisille maidon tuotannosta ja jatkojalostuksesta kiinnostuneille, saa jakaa ☺️#hamkbiotalous
Maatilan teknologiavalinnat-moduulin opiskelijat olivat mukana järjestämässä FinDrones 2023-konferenssia #agrologi #maaseutuelinkeinot #Mustiala #HAMK #hamkbiotalous
Helmikuu helistää, perinteen mukaan viitataan koviin pakkasiin, mutta ainakaan tänään se ei pidä paikkaansa. In Finland, we have a saying that February is tinkling, which refers to frost typical of the month. This is not a case today.
#hamkmustiala #HAMK #hamkbiotalous #agrologi #mustiala #maaseutuelinkeinot
#smartorganicfarming #hevostalous
On se aika vuodesta, kun Evon metsissä vilkkuu nauhoitettuja koealojen kulmakeppejä ja aitauksella erotettuja puita. Huomenna starttaa kauden ensimmäinen talvimetsätaitokisa, jossa opiskelijat pääsevät harjaannuttamaan puusilmää.
Latua ei näillä keleillä saada kisaradalle, mutta se ei menoa haittaa!
#hamkbiotalous
#opiskelu #metsätaitokilpailu #metsätalous
Mikä on metsäretken paras kohta?
No tietysti tulilla istuminen 🔥 ja eväiden syönti 🥪 Ja maisemat!
Evolla opiskelun helmiä ovat nämä aidot tilanteet aidossa ympäristössä eli metsässä 🌲🌲 Tällä retkellä kävimme antoisia keskusteluja metsänomistaja Timon kanssa metsänhoidosta.
Mitä veikkaatte olisiko samat asiat jäsentyneet samalla tavalla oppimiseksi luokkahuoneessa 😉
#hamkbiotalous #metsätalousinsinööri #metsätalous #opiskelu
Nyt on se aika vuodesta, kun syksy näyttää kauniita eri värisävyjä ja houkuttelee meitä kaikkia luontoon. 🍂 Opintojen ohella on kuitenkin hyvä muistaa oma opiskeluhyvinvointi. Opiskeluhyvinvointi on meille jokaiselle opiskelijalle tärkeä sekä omakohtainen asia. Sitä voidaan tarkastella esimerkiksi seuraavien kysymysten äärellä: millaiseksi koet yleisen jaksamisen? Onko yleiselle palautumiselle tarpeeksi aikaa? Nukutko tarpeeksi? Kiinnittämällä huomiota oman arjen toimivuuteen voit löytää kehitettäviä kohteita.
Muista ottaa siis aikaa omalle jaksamiselle sekä palautumiselle ja suuntaa opintojen sivussa esimerkiksi rentouttavalle lenkille. ☺️
#hamkbiotalous #metsätalous #opiskeluhyvinvointi
Ammattikorkeakoulussa on paljon tutkimus- ja kehittämistoimintaa, Mustialassa testataan lannan hygienisointia. Lanta siivitti kesällä tomaattien kasvua ja sato oli runsas sekä maukas.
We have a lot of research and development projects. In Mustiala, we are testing the sanitation of manure. Manure gave power to the tomatoes and the harvest was abundant and tasty.
#hamkmustiala #HAMK #hamkbiotalous #agrologi #mustiala #maaseutuelinkeinot
#smartorganicfarming #hevostalous
Syksy hiipii Evolle.
Ensimmäiset pakkasaamut heittävät hennon usvan Rautjärvien ylle. Ruskan värit maalaavat maisemaa.
Meneillään olevassa moduulissa kakkosvuoden opiskelijat pohtivat ilmastonmuutoksen vaikutuksia metsänhoitoon. Keskilämpötila nousee, sään ääri-ilmiöt yleistyvät ja metsätuhojen ennustetaan lisääntyvän. Kuinka voimme varautua tähän? Opinnoissa saamme ajantasaista tietoa muutoksista ja niiden vaikutuksesta metsätalouteen. Näin olemme ajan hermolla muuttuvassa ympäristössä.
#hamkbiotalous #opiskelu #metsätalousinsinööri
Syyskuu etenee kovaa vauhtia eteenpäin! 🍂 Tässä kuvapari 2. vuoden päiväopiskelijoiden maanantaista. Ensin opiskeltiin kasvatushakkuiden teoriaa, jonka jälkeen tämän viikkoisen metsätaitoilun järjestäjät viimeistelivät huomisen radan. Kivaa viikkoa kaikille! 😎
#hamkbiotalous #metsätalous #metsätaitoilu
Etelä-Suomessa on jo istutukset käynnissä, pohjoisessa odotellaan vielä paikoin lumien sulamista. Tämä Sodankylässä sijaitseva uudistusala on jo vapautunut lumesta ja taimia päästään laittamaan maahan kesäkuun alussa.
Toukokuun puolella katsastetaan metsäteiden kunto ja varmistetaan, että taimet saadaan toimitettua kohteisiin.
Tänään tarkistettiin myös laikkujen tiheyttä ja ihasteltiin tätä istuttajan unelmakohdetta. Toki pikku tulet ehti välissä laittaa 😊
#hamkbiotalous #opiskelu #metsä #istutus
