
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)
Overall objective of this project is to contribute to the development of climate-relevant, productive, & sustainable transformation of agriculture, forestry, & food systems in Zambia to help achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
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 studies – 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.
Field work in Africa is planned to happen during February-March 2023. We are planning to have 5-6 student challenges in Zambia, Kenya,Uganda and South Africa. The list of student challenges is updating, you can follow the situation on this web page.
2023 Student Challenge Projects are:
- 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 to Africa, the international teams work online to familiarize themselves with the case. The field work in an African partner university is 14 days. The international teams share ideas and develop innovative solutions to the identified challenges. Each project team is mentored by the client organisation as well as the staff 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 field courses are open to all HAMK students who are interested in working with bio-economy linked business and development challenges.
What does this mean for students?
If you are interested in participating in the student challenge and this course, you first have to pass Cross-cultural communication 5 ECTS and Sustainable Society and Global Economy 5 ECTS -courses.
There are few assignments in those courses that are related to the country you are about to visit, so you can wait with those assignments, until you get that information.
You can find the two courses ( Cross-cultural communications and Sustainable Society and Global Economy) from Learn.
NOTE: You don’t need to wait for the teachers approval in Pakki to start the courses.
SCHEDULE
December 2022
- You can apply to participate by writing and submitting a motivational letter by 18.12.2022. There will be a course in Learn for this, and you can see the instructions from there.
- Selection of students to each case and formation of HAMK teams; 21.12.2022
February – March 2023
- Kick off meeting; 01.02.2023, online
- Teams working virtually; Weekly
- Mentoring meetings with mentors; Bi-weekly on Mondays
- Communication plan
- Face-to-face meetings of students before travel
- Field work visit (14 days/team)
March–April 2023
- De-briefing one week after the field visit
- Mentoring of students continue
- Mid-term presentations
- Communication tasks continues
- Virtual team work continue
May
- Report writing
- Final seminar presentation; 17.05.2023
- Final report; 26.05.2023
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)
- Registration for the students of the Open university of applied sciences
- Students of other universities of applied sciences (no cost): register on CampusOnline
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.
To learn about the field course schedule and to apply to the courses in the future, follow the information on Tuudo and the International Office.
Do you have questions or need more information about the Global Sustainability course?
HAMK Sustainable Development Degree Programme
Ulla-Maija Knuutti, Senior Lecturer
ulla-maija.knuutti@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 […]
Let's watch the interview with Toni and Maren students from Kenya team!
Toni and Maren share their thoughts about the trip:
What are their expectations for this trip?
How are they going to prepare for the field trip?
Do they have any fears?
How do they imagine Kenya is like?
#hamkinafrica #hamkuas #studentchallenge #
It's time to introduce team South Africa! 🇿🇦Everyone of us listed their hopes and fears about the field trip:
☀️Maija-Stiina Arponen
Field of study: Forestry
Waiting for: International experience and to bond with fellow students and to learn new things
Fears: I’m afraid of missing my sons too much
❄️Silja Lähti
Field of study: Sustainable development
Hopes: Seeing and learning more about Africa and its’ culture
Fears: Food related issues
🌲Jari Levola
Field of study: Sustainable development
Expectations: Learn something new from different cultures and to have some unforgettable experiences
One thing I´m afraid of: If I like Africa too much and don´t want to go back home 😁
🌾Sabrina Luff
Field of study: Landscape planning and Nature protection/ Smart Organic Farming
What I’m waiting: Being part of a change, applying my knowledge in the field
What I fear: that I overestimated myself
❄️Iida-Mari Niemi
Field of study: Forestry
What I’m waiting: Getting to know new people, country and culture.
What I fear: Flying… 🆘
🥾Niko Vastamäki
Field of study: Sustainable development
Hopes: To gain knowledge about local culture and nature, and to be able to solve the given challenge.
Fears: Unexpected situations
#hamkinafrica
#hamkuas
#forest21
Tomorrow is the day we all have been waiting for, as the kick off meeting of our Student challenges takes place! During the day we learn more about our projects and get to meet our fellow students and mentors from Zambia, Kenya, and Uganda.
The meeting is happening via Zoom, so let’s gear up!
#hamkinafrica
#hamkuas
#studentchallenge
#pblbioafrica
#studentlife
Since our first meeting, a lot of emotions has been in the air. In addition to enthusiasm and excitement, some second thoughts have been raising their heads.
Luckily we also talked about negative feelings, and shared each others hopes and fears. Mind mapping can also be a good tool to unpack your emotions.
#hamk_uas#hamk_in_africa#hamk#studentchallenge2023
Kenya team quickly found a common language. They had the first team meeting on Monday where they discussed vaccination plan, location of university and dormitory in Kenya, and responsibilities for the next 4 months.
Team members found what unites them: the desire to improve sustainability and cultural exchange.
#hamk#hamkuas#hamkinafrica#studentchallenge#projects
Team South Africa here! 🌞🌍
We are all very excited about the upcoming project. Our field trip will be in April, so we started planning our vaccinations and researching the country. We have our first team meeting tomorrow. 🥳
In the picture: Romi (our mentor), Sabrina, Maija, Iida, Silja, Niko, Jari
#hamkinafrica #hamkuas #forest21 #teamwork #studentproject
Time to travel, work and learn together! Team Zambia is well prepared for our upcoming student project.
Passport and international certification of vaccination ready for takeoff, the background is going to change soon! 🌞
#hamkinafrica #hamkuas #agriscale #pblbioafrica #studentchallenge
Last week the Uganda team met for the first time, and we are all anxious to get our hands on organic fertilazers. Follow our way to Africa on Instagram #hamk_in_africa, and see how we will succeed on PBL (problem based learning)
#hamk#hamkuas#hamkinafrica#agriscale#studentproject#PBL#creatingsustainablesolutions
Let the team work begin! Welcome... very happy to have all the students in the first 2023 student project here today.
#hamkinafrica #work#projects #hamkuas #studentprojects #pblbioafrica #pbl #agriscale #forest21 #forest21
🎉🎉🎉
We begin the year with a testimony from Florence, a student from Mulungushi University, Zambia. 🔥
Listen as she shares her experience with learning through problem based learning methodology.😊
Watch out for more stories like this 💯
#pbl #hamkinafrica #student #mulungushiuniversity #learningbydoing
Thanks for sticking around #2022. 💃into 2023 💪
#hamkinafrica #projects #forest21 #pblbioafrica #agriscale
Greetings👋 from RUFORUM AGM happening in Harare!
We are in last month of the year and a lot has happened in all projects under HAMK in Africa.
Before the Christmas break, I am here in Zimbabwe to represent our PBL- BioAfrica project where high profile people and experts are meeting for the annual general meeting of RUFORUM, the largest network of universities in Africa with 149 African Universities in 38 African Countries.
3/4 very interesting sessions have already been organized where EGU and HAMK ( PBL project members) presented on different topics from entrepreneurship, cooperation and partnership with the aim of increasing impact of our work as educators.
Project Coordinator, Dr Eija Laitinen, HAMK
#hamkinafrica #EGU #partnership #collaboration #ruforumagm2022 #hamkbiotalous #pblbioafrica
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
Tämä viikko alkoi metsätuhojen teorialla, jonka jälkeen pääsimme tutkimaan tuholaisten jälkiä käytännössä maastoon. Metsätuhojen jälkeen siirryimme maalajeihin, sekä maanmuokkaukseen ja lannoitukseen. Näitä tietotaitoja haastetaan ensi viikon tenteissä.
#hamkbiotalous
-Nea & Jenna
Metsätalousinsinöörin opintoihin kuuluu työharjoittelua 30 opintopistettä. Ensimmäinen harjoittelu on suorittavaa työtä ja toinen on asiantuntijaharjoittelu. Harjoittelut voi ajoittaa oman aikataulun mukaisesti ja usein ne suoritetaan kesäisin.
Harjoittelupaikan saa valita itse. Harjoitteluvastaava tarkistaa, että suorituspaikka ja työtehtävät soveltuvat harjoitteluun.
Sometiimin Sanna suorittaa ensimmäistä harjoittelua Sodankylässä. Kesän aikana kurkataankin mitä se pitää sisällään. Näissä maisemissa sijaitsee kesäkuussa alkavat istutustyömaat.
#hamkbiotalous #opiskelu #metsätalousinsinööri #metsä #työharjoittelu
Torstai 12.5 starttasi käyntiin kulotuksen teorialla. Teoreettisen osuuden jälkeen lähdimme metsään kulotuskohteelle, jossa kaivoimme kuokalla palokujaa. Videolla ollaankin itse työn touhussa. 💪😎
-Nea & Jenna
#hamkbiotalous #metsätalous
Tällä viikolla Mimep21 ryhmän ohjelmassa oli muun muassa aloitustentit kasveista ja metsätuhoista.
Tiistaina pääsimme myös linturetkelle, jonka saldona havainnoimme 16 eri lintulajia iltapäivän aikaan. 🦜
- Nea & Jenna
#hamkbiotalous