On May 2 and 3, 2024, the cooperation partners of BRIAS (Bavarian Research Institute for African Studies) gathered for their annual meeting at the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT). The THI is a founding member of BRIAS, which aims to make the scientific expertise in African Studies of the participating universities more visible for key stakeholders in politics and society. The network currently includes the University of Bayreuth, the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt, the University of Applied Sciences Neu-Ulm, and the University of Würzburg.
Over the course of two days, all project partners were informed about current topics and projects of the partner universities. A special highlight was the signing of the cooperation agreement by the President of HSWT, Prof Dr Eric Veulliet, thereby enriching the BRIAS network with an additional partner.
Representatives from various Bavarian ministries as well as BayFOR (Melanie Schulte and Dr. Sabrina Maurus) were also invited to provide information about the project work and collaborative research of the BRIAS partners. Melanie Habelitz-Wollgam, an advisor in the Bavarian State Chancellery, was a guest along with Martin Schüßler (StMELF) and Charlotte Griese (StMWI) from Munich.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the host HSWT, especially to Christina Hoffmann and Prof Dr Carsten Lorz, for the smooth organization of the meeting.