Berlin, 04/12/2025: The DAAD conference “Equitable higher education cooperation with the Global South for innovative and sustainable societies” took place on December 3 and 4, 2025, at the dbb forum in Berlin. It was organized as a DIES event by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and brought together experts from politics, science, and university cooperation to discuss strategies for effective partnerships.
Program overview Day 1 (December 3)
After a welcome by DAAD Secretary General Dr. Kai Sicks and a representative of the BMZ, Prof. Em. Dr. Robert Coelen gave a presentation on “Third Spaces” in university cooperation. Panel 1 with Nicolas Zippelius (Member of the German Bundestag), Prof. Dr. Mónica Stein (Guatemala), Ing. Prof. Abena Agyeiwaa Obiri-Yeboah (Ghana) and Dr. Yoan Vilain (HU Berlin) highlighted innovative cooperation 2.0, moderated by Prof. Dr. Romyen Kosaikanont. Panel 2 focused on the role of universities in development cooperation with Maja Wallstein (Member of the German Bundestag), Prof. Dr. Fides Del Castillo (Philippines), and Prof. Dr. Faith Mugisha Ahabyoona (Uganda), moderated by Prof. Dr. Peter Mayer. The day ended with a gallery walk on successful models in areas such as economic transformation, security, and sustainability, as well as a networking dinner.
Program overview Day 2 (December 4)
Impulses from Dr. Serwah Prempeh (APRI) and Prof. Dr. Utz Dornberger laid the foundation for breakout sessions on soft factors, bureaucracy, and political framework conditions. The plenary closing session summarized the results before Tobias Wolf (DAAD) marked the end of the event.
Significance of the DAAD and participants
As a central institution for international higher education cooperation, the DAAD plays a key role in promoting equitable partnerships with the Global South, particularly through programs such as DIES. Among the participants was Prof. Dr. Kay Pfaffenberger from the Centre for Business and Technology in Africa (CBTA) at Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, whose expertise on German-African cooperation enriched the discussion. The conference underscored the need for innovative approaches in times of global challenges.
More information: https://www.daad.de/en/press-releases/hochschulkooperationen-als-schluessel-fuer-partnerschaften-mit-dem-globalen-sueden/