The uniqueness of the concluded staff mobility of the University of Bonn (02.05. - 16.05.2023) is that it not only enabled the continuation of this long-standing cooperation but it also introduced a new exchange dimension in which a staff of the University of Bonn from one of her cooperating partners in the Global South was involved in implementing the activities of the programme. Dr. Eric Kioko, a Lecturer at Kenyatta University, Kenya, who also lectures at the Department of Geography, University of Bonn, in the framework of the CRC ‘Future Rural Africa’ project, planned and delivered a series of academic workshops at Mzumbe University. During the 14 days of the mobility exchange, Dr. Kioko prepared and delivered material via participatory workshops and one-on-one tutoring covering the topics of academic/journal article writing, MA and PhD writing, and international grants application. The workshops featured theory and practical sessions with both junior academic staff and post graduate students of Mzumbe University in which, for example, active calls for grants were explored and tried. Students got a chance to understand the science and art of academic writing and how to conduct fieldwork, organize and analyse data, and accelerate the dissertation writing process. They also gained knowledge on existing fellowships and international grants and the skills to navigate these opportunities.
Another important outcome of the staff exchange is also worth mentioning: this was a first attempt to nurture south-south collaboration between partnering institutions of the University of Bonn in the Global South. New frontiers of cooperation have emerged as an aftermath of the workshops where staff from Kenyatta University, Mzumbe University and the University of Bonn are already working jointly on an edited volume on ‘Infrastructuring Africa’ and on an active call for grant applications. Moreover, similar workshops have been organized at Kenyatta University from September 2023.
In conclusion, the Erasmus+ staff mobility opportunity is not only beneficial to the students and staff of the receiving institution but also equally beneficial to the sending institution.
