Implementation of Academic Geomatics Education in Ethiopia for Supporting Sustainable Development

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 enrollment 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. The implementation of the master course relies heavily on team-teaching. During the first and the second term of the master program, all classes are held as team-teaching of the project members from all partner institutions. From the third term on, lecturers of DMU will take over and provide classes on their own (in a team-teaching approach). Team-teaching enables lecturers to learn from each other by discussing and applying modern teaching and learning methods. It perfectly integrates the concept of gender and diversity. The course material will be available in digital format. Two research studies will be carried out in the Edu4GEO2 project. One is highlighting the potential of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to gain land related information time-independently at local level. The second is investigating the effects of land certification on balancing gender land rights. Together with trainings given to female famers and the increased number of higher-qualified female land experts, the findings of this research study will strengthen the land tenure security for women in the Ethiopian society and create a conducive environment for equal access to land. 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. Edu4GEO2 directly addresses the overall objective of APPEAR and will be an essential contribution for the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 4, 5 and 17.