Implementation of Academic Geomatics Education in Ethiopia for Supporting Sustainable Development | Edu4GEO2

Project Coordinator: Thomas Bauer

Coordinating Institution: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria

Partner Institutions: Technische Universität Wien, Austria (Gerhard Navratil); Debre Markos University, Ethiopia (Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu); Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia (Belachew Yirsaw Alemu)

Partner Country: Ethiopia

Project Duration: 1 March 2023 – 28 February 2026 (36 months)

Ethiopia has launched a land-related data capturing and processing program using ground survey equipment, aerial photography as well as high-resolution satellite imagery. The recently established Rural Land Administration Directorate (Ministry of Agriculture), the Urban Land Development and Management Bureau (Ministry of Urban Development and Construction) and the Geospatial Information Institute at federal level with branch offices at regional and lower organizational levels are responsible for all geodata-management tasks. However, the lack of well-qualified specialists is becoming a challenge for a proper execution of these duties.

APPEAR has been playing pivotal role for these by funding the establishment and proper functioning of the land administration competence center at Debre Markos University (DMU) in the previous academic partnership project EduLAND2 - https://appear.at/en/completed-project-websites/project113-eduland. A bachelor course on Land Administration and Surveying has been developed and implemented to teach students both in regular and continuing education programs. In addition, land administration experts at different levels got tailor-made trainings on different skill related courses.

Edu4GEO2 is based on the results of EduLAND2 project and designed to upgrade the competence of undergraduate students through implementing a master curriculum on Geomatics to make students fit for leading positions in the public and private sector of land administration and geodata-management, as well as for teaching and research activities at academic institutions. Since female students are given priority in the enrolment process, Edu4GEO2 will increase the number of female land administrations specialists. This will improve the proportion of female land administration professionals engaged in higher scientific works and decision-making powers.

Edu4GEO2 also includes customized trainings for land administration professionals engaged in different scientific works, which will close existing knowledge and skill gaps. Particularly, the training of land committees and female farmers is pivotal for the proper functioning of the land administration activities especially at the grass root level.