University of Potsdam and Namibia strengthen Academic Cooperation
They have agreed to deepen research and educational exchange between the institutions
April 28th, 2025
Namibia's Ambassador to Germany, Martin Andjaba, and the President of the University of Potsdam, Prof. Dr. Oliver Günther, met on 15 April with academics and researchers to strengthen cooperation in education and research. According to the University of Potsdam, the meeting was held in the historic Neues Palais and included representatives from fields such as biology, computer science, botany and doctoral studies.
The University of Potsdam has active collaborations with the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology, focusing on areas such as the conservation of endangered plant species, wildlife management strategies, climate-smart water resource management and drone mapping for informal settlements. During the discussions, initiatives such as student and staff mobility programmes and joint thesis projects in Namibia were explored in response to the limited awareness of such exchange opportunities.
In June this year, President Günther will travel to Namibia with biodiversity expert Prof. Dr. Anja Linstädter to attend the closing ceremony of the NamTip project, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to the tune of more than one million euros. They will also visit research sites in the Waterberg region where the TipEx experiment is being conducted to study the effects of artificially induced drought and overgrazing on rangeland vegetation.
The University of Potsdam's commitment to innovation and knowledge transfer is recognised regionally. In a recent interview, Professor Oliver Günther highlighted the role of the Potsdam Science Park as a hub for research and entrepreneurship in Brandenburg. He highlighted initiatives such as Potsdam Transfer and the promotion of a start-up culture among young scientists as key factors in positioning the region as a leader in technological innovation. Contributing to sustainable economic growth and strengthening the innovation ecosystem in the Berlin-Brandenburg área.
References
- https://www.namibia-botschaft.de/intensification-of-cooperation-in-the-academic-field/ https://www.namibia-botschaft.de/intensification-of-cooperation-in-the-academic-field/
- https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/headlines-and-featured-stories/detail/2025-04-16-kooperation-mit-namibia-gestaerkt-botschafter-zu-gast-am-neuen-palais https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/headlines-and-featured-stories/detail/2025-04-16-kooperation-mit-namibia-gestaerkt-botschafter-zu-gast-am-neuen-palais
- https://potsdam-sciencepark.de/en/blog-post/the-power-of-innovation-is-on-the-rise-interview-with-prof-oliver-guenther-ph-d-president-of-the-university-of-potsdam/ https://potsdam-sciencepark.de/en/blog-post/the-power-of-innovation-is-on-the-rise-interview-with-prof-oliver-guenther-ph-d-president-of-the-university-of-potsdam/
