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International Germany Alumni Training Seminar 2025

in the frame of the DAAD programme 

SDG Alumni Projects: Knowledge and Practice for Development:

"Sustainable Management of Water Resources in Africa"

10th March – 16th May 2025: Online training phase (every Friday, session of 2 hours)

1st – 7th July 2025: In-person training seminar in Johannesburg, South Africa

followed by the participation in the trade fair:

IFAT Africa 2025

Water, Sewage, Refuse and Recycling: Solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa

8th – 10th July 2025 at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

CALL for Application_IFAT 2025 TUBAF

Training Seminar Aims

TU Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF) has a long-standing tradition in alumni activities, especially for international graduates. During an Alumni seminar sponsored by DAAD and held at University of Johannesburg in December 2023, participants agreed to install a “Network for Collaboration on Water in Africa”. The network gathers Germany Alumni (in the sense of DAAD) and other African experts on water and issues related to water, such as climate studies, soil science, urban and rural development and (artisanal) mining. This ongoing network constitutes a fertile ground for proposing new and innovative research ideas. The IFAT Africa Trade Fair 2025 in Johannesburg provides a fruitful opportunity to bring the Network members and other interested Germany Alumni together for a collaborative reflection on water management issues in co-operation with German industry partners. 

The forthcoming Alumni Seminar is designed to offer Alumni multiple opportunities for sustainable and peaceful water resources management with access to each other’s knowledge base and experiences and new contacts with water resources experts from Germany who are also participating in the IFAT Africa Trade Fair 2025.

It will offer lectures on water technologies and water resources management, give insights into water related challenges through excursions around Johannesburg, enable interactions with water experts from the AHK Water Competence Centre and from German participants in the IFAT Africa Trade Fair 2025 and, above all, allow for deep exchanges of knowledge and experiences of participating Alumni among each other. In this way, the Network for Collaboration on Water in Africa will enhance its potential and outreach.

The costs will be mainly covered by funds from the DAAD provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Tentative Programme

The training seminar programme in Johannesburg will include: 

  • Present sustainable technical and managerial solution to water issues in Africa
  • Exchange of information and experience on water solutions studied and practiced by Alumni participants
  • Explore potential for collaborations with German industry partners
  • Strengthen the Network for Collaboration on Water in Africa

The final training seminar programme in Johannesburg will be published once all applications have been reviewed. 

It is necessary to participate in the whole programme: training seminar and IFAT Africa Trade Fair and social programme.

The training seminar and the conference participation are supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) within the framework of the programme SDG Alumni Projects: Knowledge and Practice for Development, funded primarily by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) (www.daad.de/sdg-alumni-projects). The training sessions and conference participation are scheduled to coincide with the lead-up to the IFAT Africa 2025 trade fair (https://ifat-africa.com/en/trade-fair/) which  is a regional knowledge-sharing and networking event focused on water management, wastewater re-use, and circular economy, offering a global forum where water experts, partners, and practitioners can share their experiences, knowledge, and emerging trends in water resource management. It serves as a premier platform for connecting practitioners, private sector actors, academia, and like-minded professionals in environmental resource management. The theme for IFAT Africa 2025, “Water, Sewage, Refuse, and Recycling: Solutions for Subsahara-Africa”, will allow alumni participants to gain insights into challenges and opportunities in water resource management, wastewater re-use, best practices, and connect with the broader pan-African water community.

The costs are mainly covered by funds from the DAAD provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

Eligibility Criteria for Participation

This training seminar and the IFAT Africa Trade Fair targets Alumni of German universities / research Institutions (so called Germany Alumni) who

  • are citizens of countries in the African Union listed on the OECD DAC list (https://au.int/en/member_states/countryprofiles2) 

  • spent at least 3 months in Germany on professional errands (study, training, teaching, research)

    OR who were funded within the framework of 

  • the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Program or
  • the Centres of African Excellence or
  • the SDG Graduate Schools or
  • the Excellence Centres for Exchange and Development – exceed
  • currently live and work in their home countries / in countries in the African Union listed on the OECD DAC list.

You should have 

  1. a proven background in academic fields relevant to the topics of water resources management, water technologies, water and environment, water and community 
  2. professional experience and personal interest in one of the following areas: research, education, NGOs, government agencies, policy making, project development, local communities, and related stakeholders, 
  3. the requirements to act as a potential change agent (multiplier) who will present the training seminar results in your home country and thus disseminate the acquired knowledge as well as develop ideas and projects for regional implementation, 
  4. adequate language proficiency which is essential to actively participate in the workshops and discussions as the seminar will be held in English. 

Eligibility for repeated attendances at SDG Alumni Projects: 

Participations in the DAAD Alumni Programme are limited to a maximum of 2 participations within 4 years. The year of participation, not the year of application, is decisive for the calculation. (This rule does not apply for attendance in a completely digital SDG Alumni Project (formerly: Alumni Special Project).

Cost Coverage
  • International return ticket to and from Johannesburg and airport transfer to hotel (lowest possible economy class airfare – up to a maximum grant of € 900 (in case the flight budget does not allow for a full flight reimbursement)
  • Local transport in Johannesburg on excursions and during the IFAT Africa 2025 trade fair in Johannesburg
  • Accommodation and partial living expenses during the stay in Johannesburg (training seminar and trade fair phase)
  • Registration fees for the IFAT Africa 2025 trade fair
  • Visa costs (max. 35 Euro)
  • Travel health insurance (max. 35 Euro)

Please note: 

Any other than the above-mentioned costs must be covered by the participants, i.e., particularly:

  • Transport between the participants’ place of residence and the national airport.
  • Travel costs associated with participants’ visa application in their country of residence.
  • Local transport in Johannesburg for private errands not associated with the seminar/ trade fair.

In case of a self-inflicted no-show, the costs must be covered by the participant. Rebooking can only be considered in exceptional cases and only after consultation.

Please keep in mind that living expenses are only covered partly during your stay in Johannesburg. 

 

Extensions of stays before or/and after the training seminar + Trade Fair are only possible up to 5 working days and upon submission of a comparison of flight ticket prices before you start your travel.

You will have to pay any difference between the flight ticket prices for the official arrival/return date (see below) and your actual date of travel before/after your extension. You must also cover by yourself any additional travel costs, subsistence costs and other additional costs of your extension. 

Extensions beyond 5 days must be of an official nature, which you need to justify, e.g. through visits to universities, organizations, institutions, companies etc. and with details about contact persons and a day-to-day programme of activities. These extensions must be approved by DAAD before you start your travel. Decisions by DAAD are made on an individual nature based upon your justification, your programme etc. 

For any extension, you need to organize your accommodation by yourself, and, very important, you have to make sure to have a valid health insurance for the extension days.

Travel dates:

30th                    June 2025:         Arrival in Johannesburg

1st – 7th             July 2025:          Training seminar in Johannesburg

8th – 10th         July 2025:          Visit of the IFAT Africa Trade Fair in Johannesburg

11th                    July 2025:          Individual departure from Johannesburg

Attendance is compulsory for the preceding online seminars, the in-person training seminars in Johannesburg to the last day of the IFAT Africa 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

The online training seminar will take place from 8th February – 16th May 2025, every Friday, 2-hour sessions. 

Application Procedure

Your application (in English language) should emphasize your motivation and professional benefit for your participation.  You must 

  • have a PROVEN academic and professional background in issues of water technology and water resources management. 
  • be willing to actively participate in the seminar, including a self-preparatory stage followed by contributions during and after the seminar.
  • have the potential to act as multipliers within their professional networks, disseminating the knowledge and skills gained from the seminar

You should illustrate how you are planning to imply the gained knowledge and what possible stakeholders for collaboration you may identify for your professional career.

 

Your application (in English language) must include the following documents in one single pdf file (in “Arial font size 11, 2.5 line spacing, except for the application form):

  • A filled-out application form
  • A short CV with photograph and relevant documentation of alumni status
  • An abstract/short description of your intended contribution to the training seminar and your learning objectives for the visit of the IFAT Africa Trade fair (see above under “Application Procedure”) 
  • A short description of your present duties/ position and your personal professional goals, indicating your envisaged field of activities and duty level.
  • An overview on seminars, workshops or conferences visited in Germany after finishing your studies in Germany.

The PDF-document should be named ‘Last name_First name_country’

(e.g. Mustermann_Mara_Germany).

Please send your application, as one single pdf file, latest by 31 January 2025 via email to: Jiangxue [dot] liu [at] mabb [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de

Please note: Completeness of personal data mentioned in the online application form will affect your eligibility as a participant.

After the review by the local organising committee and DAAD, the invited participants will be notified by the end of February 2025. 

For further questions, please contact Dr. Jiangxue Liu (Jiangxue [dot] liu [at] mabb [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (Jiangxue[dot]liu[at]mabb[dot]tu-freiberg[dot]de))