The Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen has devoted itself to the development of universities and higher professional education in developing countries for more than ten years. For the first time, in 1995, the Hanze UAS was involved in a large project in Burkina Faso (West Africa) which was performed by the Faculty of Technology. During the same period, the former Faculty of Economics was involved in a project in Eritrea. After a period during which the Hanze UAS had different priorities in the area of internationalisation, this development was continued in 2004.
Since the academic year 2004-2005, the Hanze UAS has been involved in projects in Indonesia, Vietnam, Uganda, Ghana and South Africa. Lecturers and staff members of the Hanze UAS travel to these countries on a regular basis in order to provide trainings and consultancy. Apart from that, the university organises courses in the Netherlands for lecturers and managers of educational partner institutions in developing countries. Click here for an overview of the projects in which the Hanze UAS is currently involved.
While drawing up statements of assets and liabilities at the various Schools, it has appeared that over the last years many students travel to developing countries for their work placements. Especially the Schools that arose from the former Gamma Faculty use the options offered to students on a regular basis.
The recently started minor ‘International Aid and Development’ offers Hanze UAS students the possibility to prepare for a work placement or working period in a developing country during their studies.
During the next four years the projects, work placements and subjects that relate to cooperation with developing countries will be linked together and will be further professionalised.