Berichte von Mobilitäten aus und nach Afrika

Living in a foreign country like Germany, Koblenz University was a great opportunity for me. During four months period of my stay, I gained a lot of useful experiences and valuable knowledge. Additional to class courses I learned the basic German language, experienced a new culture and I visited various beautiful tourist attractions.  For me I can say that the days spent there were not ordinary, they will be helpful, they will be always remembered and will never be forgotten.

Innocent Nzabonimpa

University of Rwanda

Kontakt: nzabonimpainnocent at gmail.com

To my great delight, I learned that I have been admitted to Koblenz for the summer semester of 2021. It cost me to accept an unpaid study leave from my employer because I was passionate and enthusiastic about learning new skills and facing additional challenges in a developed country like Germany.

Once I arrived at the University of Koblenz-Landau, my dreams came true. What experiences did I have there? Not easy to say all, but I appreciated the way German lecturers and students are highly skilled, welcoming, hardworking, respecting and managing time with punctuality, their motivation to make us learn, and tools such as OLAT, KLIPS, and SOGO were very impressive, facilitating, and friendly to use to succeed in our courses considering difficult times of the pandemic (Covid19).

Briefly, my presence at the University of Koblenz-Landau was really a wake-up call to me as a master's student in Biogeosciences and Biodiversity conservation as I experienced a lot from a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment which consequently helped me to know my gaps in terms of knowledge and the way forward to overcome them.

As my passion reigns in aquatic ecology, conservation, and restoration; I am currently working on my thesis about the impacts of cage fish farming on Lake Kivu Ecosystem Health. My dream is to further my studies and enter into a research career.

I thank you all, the Koblenz team, for your incredible hospitality to us.

Placide Nkusi

University of Rwanda

Kontakt: nkusip at gmail.com

Enrolling as an exchange student at the University of Koblenz-Landau in the summer semester 2021, was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was an amazing opportunity to get to know the other side of the world. During the time I learned more in the BioGeoSciences field that I linked with the Biodiversity conservation program we have in Rwanda. I also had an opportunity to interact with top lecturers in their different fields such as conservation biology, insect diversity,  diversity of angiosperms, etc. The interaction with German local students was good, which reinforced the strong academic learning environment. All of the course administrators were very receptive to all students and any questions they may have had. I can not end without mentioning Dr. Thomas Wagner; He has special learning methods, he is friendly and I enjoyed his module of insect diversity. To sum up, I am thankful for everyone who contributed in one way or another to make the summer semester abroad happen. I enjoyed my time in Koblenz and I made thousands of unforgettable memories.

Nathan Akimana

University of Rwanda

Kontakt: nathanakimana at gmail.com

My stay in Koblenz was historic since I have learnt many things for my career in Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resource Management. In particular I was inspired by the lecturers at the University of Koblenz-Landau who concentrate most of their time doing research and writing  publications. Germany has very welcoming people like my country of birth.

Emmanuel Niyigena

University of Rwanda

Kontakt: emmaniyigena11 at gmail.com

I am a student in “Biodiversity and Conservation” at the University of Mahajanga-Madagascar and I was one of the Malagasy students selected to participate in the exchange program between the University of Mahajanga/Madagascar and the University of Koblenz-Landau. My academic training at the University of Koblenz-Landau helped me to improve my scientific knowledge.

It was a great experience to spend the summer semester on the campus in Koblenz. I enjoyed the exchange with the foreign students and it has given me many experiences. This program encouraged me to learn more about biodiversity conservation and to protect the environment. I really liked our courses by Prof. Fischer and Dr Zizzari about conservation biology. Our laboratory works on soil and water conservation helped me to learn a lot of measurement methods. In addition, the German course helped me to learn another language and improved my English language skills.

Currently I am doing an internship about the assessment of land loss and runoff related to fire practices in the Boeny Region and its implications for landscape management policy frameworks. I am also working at my master’s thesis which focuses on the influence of land use on soil invertebrates.

I will never forget my experience with ERASMUS+ in Germany.

Zo Rachel Juliana Razafitrimo

University of Mahajanga, Madagascar

Kontakt: razafitrimozorachel at gmail.com

Hello! I am RAJAONARIVO BINE TOKINIAINA. I am a student of the university of Mahajanga and I spent a semester at the university of Koblenz-Landau. The semester I spent there helped me a lot in my professional as well as personal life. I learned a lot there and by the experience of living in Koblenz I was able to accomplish things that I myself did not expect. And now I am one of the founder of an NGO called ONG JOUMA and I am the secretary general of this NGO. And to close my testimony I would like to thank all the people who allowed me to make this experience and also the University of Mahajanga and Koblenz-Landau for this magnificent adventure I had in Germany.

Bine Tokiniaina Rajaonarivo

University of Mahajanga, Madagascar

Since 2001 I have been working with Impatiens as part of the collaboration between the Parc Botanique and Zoologique of Tsimbazaza (PBZT) and the University of Koblenz-Landau in Germany, initiated by the Neuchâtel University. Being the first specialist of Impatiens, Prof. Dr. Eberhard Fischer has kindly accepted to be my advisor all along my studies and work, that I summarize below:

• My field work and Laboratory work on herbarium material between 2000 and 2002 were supported by the University of Neuchatel Switzerland and between 2004-2010 by the University of Koblenz-Landau & DAAD as well as the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris (2007).

• Between 2002 to 2018 fourteen articles on taxonomy and phylogeny of Impatiens in Madagascar and Comoros Islands were published, fruits of Collaboration between the University of Koblenz-Landau and PBZT where I worked.

• In 2004 the field work in Ranomafana and Tsitola was conducted in collaboration with the PBZT and the University of Koblenz-Landau.

• In 2008 and 2009 the study was conducted in collaboration with the Sud Expert Plant/IRD project.

• 2016-2018 : I became coordinator of cooperation between the University of Mahajanga, Madagascar and the University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany.

  • 2017 : Meeting of staff from the University of Koblenz-Landau and the high responsable at Mahajanga University in Madagascar.

  • 2018 : The ERASMUS+ program at the University of Koblenz-Landau in Germany gave the opportunity to six students from the University of Mahajanga, Madagascar to follow one semester of the Master’s courses “BioGeoSciences” at the University of Koblenz-Landau.

  • 2018 : The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment at the University of Mahajanga, Prof. Jean François Rajaonarison, and myself visited the University of Koblenz-Landau to meet our partners and to discuss, evaluate and monitor the collaboration under the ERASMUS+ program and its financial support.

  • 2019: In February 2019 I traveled to Koblenz, to stay one week and to defend my PhD on Balsaminaceae in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands: Systematics, Evolution, and Biogeography

  • I am grateful to Prof. Dr. Eberhard Fischer and the University of Koblenz-Landau Germany for advice and financial support all along my work and studies. I am indebted to the ERASMUS+ program and the colleagues at the University of Koblenz-Landau, without whom I would not have been able to defend my doctoral thesis..

  • On behalf of the University of Mahajanga, Madagascar I express our heartful thanks for the fruitful collaboration with the University of Koblenz-Landau under the ERASMUS+ program and its financial support which gave the opportunity for nine Malagasy students to get an experience on studying abroad and for the mobility of its two staffs so far.

Dr. Marie Elisette Rahelivololona

Coordinator for ERASMUS+ and the cooperation between the University of Mahajanga and the University of Koblenz-Landau

Teacher and Researcher at Faculté des Sciences de Technologie et de l' Environnement, University of Mahajanga

Kontakt: rmarielisette at yahoo.fr

My scientific journey has started

I am currently a final-year undergraduate student in the Master's Degree Program in Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resources Management and BioGeoSciences/BioGeoWissenschaften at the University of Rwanda and the University of Koblenz-Landau respectively. Since my high school days I have been fascinated by animal life and I could spend a lot of time with my friends playing around in wetlands looking for small fish and diverse animal species. At university, my early passion for biodiversity was consolidated by my strong commitment to the neglected biodiversity conservation.

Before I came to the University of Koblenz-Landau in 2018, I had an unclear idea of what I should specialize in, as I naturally wanted to protect all species. But after attending a series of scientific courses and hands-on practical work, I immediately recalled the conservation of neglected biodiversity. One of the courses I was greatly interested in was bioacoustic assessment of anuran diversity given by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Sinsch.

After my visit to his office in Koblenz, with the support from Dr. Maxmillian Dehling, I have been integrated to their project in Rwanda working on diversity of anurans in disturbed and undisturbed wetlands using bioacoustic methodologies. I expressed my interest to work with them in the research of anurans, and I am happy that my request got positive feedback, so I enjoy working with them today.

In addition, with the skills and knowledge I gained from Koblenz, I am currently part of the technical team to assess the biodiversity in key wetlands of Rwanda for a research project to be conducted by the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) in 2019-2020. The Project is entitled "Using Ecological Integrity Assessment and Advanced Information to Guide Wetlands Management Decision Making in Rwanda".

My passion for anuran research is constantly growing and my vision is to continue to work on my thesis.

The University of Koblenz-Landau has shaped my scientific focus. I am a frogman.

Mapendo Mindje

Teaching / Research assistant at University of Rwanda, College of Agriculture, Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine. Department of Forestry and Nature Conservation.

Kontakt: majulesdor at gmail.com

I am a practitioner and researcher in biodiversity conservation and I am currently involved in ongoing research on the “quantification of Carbon stock in the Gishwati-Mukura National Park".

After completing my studies in BioGeoSciences at the University of Koblenz-Landau, I immediately took part in the Rwanda Youth Conservation Innovation Competition and in 2018 I was awarded first prize for the best biodiversity conservation project.

The Rwanda-Center and Office for Africa-Cooperation at the University of Koblenz-Landau spent and still spend a lot of time helping me to uncover and highlight my strengths and qualifications which enabled me to get a foot in the door.

Currently I am running a conservation organization called “Botanical Society of Rwanda (BSR)”. In line with the BSR mission I have initiated a Plant Collection Conservation Garden called “Pice Bio-Heritage Garden” which currently contains rare, medicinal, cultural, endangered and critically endangered plant species of Rwanda. Pice is the abbreviation of my first name “Pierre Celestin”. The garden is about 15 hectares in size and is located in the Gisagara District, 8miles from Huye City, with tree planting, plant propagation, and restoration activities.

One of the great things about the University of Koblenz-Landau is the direct access to the academic staff, and above all the professors here are very encouraging, show great professional maturity and are very committed to the education and development of their students. I truly feel the University of Koblenz-Landau has prepared me for life – not just for a career.

Pierre Celestin Hakorimana

University of Rwanda

Kontakt: hakorimanapcelestin at gmail.com

My experience at the University Koblenz-Landau

During my studies at the University of Koblenz-Landau I gained a lot of valuable experience, but the outstanding ones are those from the courses Soil and water conservation taught by Dr. Julian Zemke and Field laboratory methods in geoecolgy taught by Dr. Michael Tempel.

These two courses included field trips and many soil analyses for different parameters. I have gained hands on experience in carrying out various soil analyses.

In my home region (Gicumbi District) the population is rural and agriculture is their main source of livelihood. The district is dominated by hundreds of smallholdings and steep slopes which have made the area vulnerable to soil erosion. Deep gullies almost 3 meters deep and 5 meters wide have developed in most agricultural areas.

On the basis of the experience and knowledge gained from the two courses mentioned, I am conducting a study entitled "Quantifying the quantity of soils and nutrients lost by gully erosion in Gicumbi District" (http://www.gicumbi.gov.rw). This will help to inform policy makers and the population in general about the impact of soil erosion and will hopefully lead to more stringent soil conservation measures.

I wish to thank the management of the University of Rwanda and the University of Koblenz-Landau for giving me the opportunity to spend a semester at the University of Koblenz-Landau as part of the Erasmus+-Programme.

Jackson Lutagira

University of Rwanda

My experiences as a foreign student at the University of Koblenz-Landau helped me growing in academic and social areas, especially as an environmental scientist.

My semester abroad was very enriching, as I was able to expand my academic skills in the field of plant and soil diversity conservation thanks to the internationally experienced professors. Furthermore, the University gave me an opportunity to interact, learn and share ideas with other students from different countries.

In order to further develop my career plan as a biodiversity and natural resources management specialist with advanced knowledge in both theory and practice, my next step is to pursue a PhD program.

I recommend fellow students to consider an exchange program at the University of Koblenz-Landau as an opportunity, albeit surely challenging, it is rewarding and an important step for future professional development.

Germaine Hirwa

University of Rwanda

Kontakt: hirwagermaine at gmail.com

It is not easy to find words to express all the memories of my stay at the University of Koblenz-Landau in the summer semester of 2018. But sincerely speaking, I have been extremely fascinated by the way the University is trying to welcome overseas students and help them to get used to life in Germany quickly. Thanks for the “buddy” system and the student ticket for local transport and so many other exceptional arrangements provided to facilitate the academic life in Koblenz.

Particularly, the courses taken at the University of Koblenz-Landau have decisively shaped my scientific career and strengthened my research capabilities. It was really an inspiring challenge to me as a master’s student in Biogeosciences and Biodiversity conservation to experience such a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment reigning at the University of Koblenz-Landau.

As part of my passion for aquatic biodiversity, I am currently studying the Trichoptera (caddisflies) diversity of Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, with the support of the Swedish Museum of Natural History.

Leonce Ngirinshuti

Lab Technician at the University of Rwanda

I am managing both my scientific career and my PhD project

I was one of the students selected by the University of Mahajanga, Madagascar to spend a semester abroad at the University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany in 2018. Before I came to Germany, I have worked in various national and international nature conservation projects with researchers and graduate students in the tropical rainforest and dry forest of Madagascar. The main focus was on the implementation of a rapid assessment program.

Since I joined the University of Koblenz-Landau, my field of interest has been focused entirely on the study of amphibian bioacoustics. Prof. Dr. Sinsch taught us bioacoustics and its importance in conservation biology. He is one of the leading scientists in amphibian bioacoustics worldwide.

Madagascar, like other tropical countries, is home to a variety of amphibians and reptiles, most of which are currently described. However, bioacoustics has been accepted by most scientists as one of the criteria for describing a new species. I have submitted my PhD research proposal, that will focus on the impact of climate change on amphibians and reptiles in the northern highlands of Madagascar, to various funders. Inspired by the study of bioacoustics, I have developed a standard method to record amphibian calling activity according to the seasons in order to determine their temporal variability.

I was also recently recruited by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Program Madagascar as a Scientific Assistant for the Sustainable Wildlife Management Program. The aim of this project is to reduce hunting of endemic species in the vicinity of the Makira Natural Park, currently Madagascar's largest terrestrial protected area.

My studies at the University of Koblenz-Landau were of great importance, especially my capacity building in the field of conservation biology. I now have an international profile in my field of scientific activity. I love my work.

Hajaniaina Rasoloarison

Scientific Assistant

Wildlife Conservation Society, Program Madagascar

Kontakt: rasoloarisonh at gmail.com

Amazing experience

Before I came to Germany, I studied Wildlife Conservation in Fianarantsoa and for my master's degree I chose to study Zoology at the University of Mahajanga. For six years I have been representing an international NGO “Hope for Madagascar” to help international students who want to volunteer in Madagascar https://www.hopeformadagascar.org/. We build benches for schools, gazebos for kindergartens, and teach the locals how to use new, improved economic stoves. My work focused more on social development.

In 2018 I was one of the Malagasy students selected to participate in the first exchange program between the University of Mahajanga/Madagascar and the University of Koblenz-Landau. It was a great experience to spend this semester on the campus in Koblenz. Studying at the University of Koblenz-Landau helped me a lot to increase my knowledge of the environment, which is a huge area.

The Erasmus+ program gave us an opportunity to get an overview of being a student in Germany. Everything amazed us - not only the facilities they have, but also the way the teachers pass on their knowledge to the students. The university staff had already prepared our accommodation and we got help from amazing, local students through the Buddy-Program organized by the Welcome Center. One of our buddies took us for a mountain hiking and a classmate invited us to her house, where I rode a horse for the first time in my life.

Furthermore, we made new friends and discovered the German culture a little bit by participating in the events organized by the Welcome Center of the university.

After our studies in Koblenz I got the opportunity to gain experience in the field concerning my favorite animals, which are the lemurs. Actually I am volunteering at “Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership”: On the one hand I help in the communication between local graduate students and international volunteers and on the other hand I am monitoring two species of lemurs in the Andasibe-Analamazaotra Special Reserve, a protected area in the eastern part of Madagascar. We are studying the impacts of tourism on diademed sifaka and the dynamics of a black-and-white ruffed lemur population after the reintroduction of a few individuals.

Antso Razakafamantanantsoa

Volunteering project contact

Hope for Madagascar

Kontakt: antsooraz at gmail.com

I am a student from the University of Mahajanga – Madagascar and I will never forget my experience with ERASMUS+ in Germany.

Everything started when I received a scholarship as an exchange student for one semester (summer) at the University of Koblenz-Landau in Germany. Before that I had been working as a guide assistant in Anjajavy for 7 months. It was my first time to travel abroad and I felt very excited.

The ERASMUS+ program gave me the opportunity to learn the German language and to improve my English skills. I would like to express my appreciation for the opportunity offered to me to participate in Erasmus+ because I find that I have learned something new from German culture.

After graduating with my master’s degree in Biodiversity and Conservation at the University of Mahajanga, I focused more on the science of life and environment. In fact, I chose allergenic plants as my study topic for two years.

I also got the opportunity to follow a training in the “Anjajavy Lodge”, which is well known for its biodiversity. The experience was very enriching by the presence of spectacular endemic fauna and flora. The training mainly consisted of investigation of medicinal plants used by the local population.

Erasmus+ was an opportunity for me to get to know a new field. The Institute of Integrated Natural Sciences at the University of Koblenz-Landau plays an important role in biodiversity and conservation. Studying in the departments of Biology and Geography will be very helpful for my further work. By offering the adequate courses I am well prepared to face the challenges of doctoral studies. For this reason, I have planned to continue with my PhD next year.

Ando Harilalao Rakotomamonjy

University of Mahajanga

Kontakt: rakotomamonjyando at gmail.com

I graduated from the University of Mahajanga at the Department of Zoology, and I am about to finish my doctoral thesis. I work with the herpetofauna and my theses is focused on the morphotype and the biogeography of the long noised chameleons in western Madagascar. The collaboration between the University of Mahajanga and the University of Koblenz-Landau gave me the great opportunity to go abroad and continue my studies as an international ERASMUS student. During my studies at the University of Koblenz-Landau, I enjoyed myself, was satisfied with the accommodation, the friendly students, the teachers and the instructive and helpful administration staff.

In fact, after this exchange I gained a lot of knowledge which is very helpful for my further career and the tasks at my home university, e.g.: Assistance in the teaching of academic writing and scientific English at undergraduate and master's level, responsibility for the zoological laboratory and fieldwork within the zoology department, access to many different projects such as: NABU, MRPA (Managed Resource Protected Areas), OPWALL (Operation Wallace) and DBCAM (Development and Biodiversity Conservation Action of Madagascar).

Studying at the University of Koblenz-Landau has not only given my career at my home university a better future, but has also broadened my relationship to other international students and improved my self-confidence to be aware of my duties and responsibilities in Madagascar compared to other countries.

Velojaona Audlin Ramiandra

University of Mahajanga

Kontakt: ramiandravelojaonaaudlin at gmail.com

I am a student in “Biodiversity and Conservation” at the University of Mahajanga, Madagascar. My studies focus on Melissopalynology, which is about the relationship between honeybees and flowering plants by observing the pollen content in honey.

My academic training at the University of Koblenz-Landau helped me to further improve the scientific knowledge I have acquired in my home country. Especially the exchange between foreign students has given me a lot of experience and encouraged me to learn more about how to conserve biodiversity.

First of all, I learned several methods in Geoecology, soil and water conservation, including more measures to conserve the soil, especially by using the particular software “ArcGIS”. Moreover, the course about bioacoustics of Amphibians provided me with new knowledge, with which we could identify amphibian species through their vocalization. In addition, the basic determination key of Angiosperms helped me to classify them for my further studies. Two additional courses were taken by us, academic writing and presenting and a German course.

It is my wish to use these experiences to conduct my studies about pollen of melliferous plants (palynology area) for my doctoral thesis.

Irinomenjanahary Randrianjafy

University of Mahajanga, Madagascar

Kontakt: irina.nomenjahh at gmail.com

I recently completed my master's degree in Ecology of Primates at the University of Mahajanga - Madagascar. However, my experience as a master student in the Erasmus+ program at the University of Koblenz-Landau in the BioGeoSciences program was once again fascinating.

I have always been an animal lover, that is why I have chosen to study Primates. My master's thesis deals with the biodiversity conservation, the biology and the behavior of Indri indri (one of the endemic species of Madagascar’s Lemurs). The title of my thesis is: Contribution of the dominance between females in Indri indri in the tropical forest of Maromizaha, East of Madagascar. That is also the reason why I wanted to learn about bioacoustic assessment of Anurans diversity at the University of Koblenz-Landau. Since my short stay of six months at the University of Koblenz-Landau, studying bioacoustics of Anurans allows me to focalize more on my following project as a PhD student.

Before the experience at the University of Koblenz-Landau, I had a blurred idea of what I can do to continue my studies. But after Koblenz, everything was clear, especially what I would focus on later in my doctoral thesis. My passion for animals, especially for primate research, is very big and I now have a great vision to continue working on my doctoral thesis, not only to better understand but also to consider the role of Primates.

Before I spent time in Germany, I had never traveled from Madagascar, so I had no idea what people would be like abroad. However, my experience in Koblenz allowed me to get to know other cultures and others spaces. Not to mention that German people are very kind, helpful and social.

Well, in one word, participating in the Erasmus+ program at the University of Koblenz-Landau was just a good way to better continue my project with my doctoral thesis as a carrier. Of course, when my little son has found his feet…. :-).

Léjà Rakotonirina

University of Mahajanga

Glühende Hitze, staubige Sandwege, eine Straße, die mehr aus „Loch“ als aus „Straße“ besteht. Busfahrer, die elegant neben den asphaltierten Wegen fahren, und unzählige freundliche Menschen, die einem etwas zur Verkostung anbieten. Ich glaube das sind die ersten Eindrücke an die ich denke, wenn ich an meine vier Wochen in Madagaskar zurückdenke. Herzlich wurde ich von allen Einheimischen aufgenommen, die mich durch dieses Abenteuer begleiteten. Ungefähr zwei Wochen verbrachte ich im Ankarafantsika Nationalpark, um dort die Verhaltensweisen der Coquerel-Sifakas (Propithecus coquereli), einer vom Aussterben bedrohten Lemurenart der trockenden Laubwälder im nordwestlichen Madaskar, zu beobachten. Hierbei lag der Fokus darauf zu vergleichen, wie sich ihr Verhalten in fragmentierten und vom Menschen gestörten Waldstücken von den Artgenossen unterschied, welche in den noch halbwegs unberührten zusammenhängenden Wäldern lebten. Ausgestattet mit Fernglas, GPS-Gerät, genug Proviant, Sonnencreme, Anti-Mückenspray, sowie einem Forschungsassisten und einem Guide, verbrachte ich die längste Zeit des Tages zwischen den Bäumen, um genau zu dokumentieren, was die flauschigen Halbaffen taten. Im Forschercamp des Nationalparks konnte ich mich mit Forschern aus aller Welt austauschen und so kennenlernen, was man sonst nur in Büchern liest. Ich konnte nicht nur viel über die Säugetiere meiner Forschung, sondern auch außerhalb des Nationalparks eine Menge über das Land, seine Einwohner und das doch etwas andersartige Zeitmanagement dieser Kultur lernen. Reis und Flexibilität gegenüber Plänen bestimmen hier den Alltag. Und dennoch würde ich jederzeit zu den Menschen und der Insel zurückkehren, die mir das Gefühl gegeben haben, zu Hause zu sein.

Selina Glebsattel
Masterstudentin BioGeoWissenschaften
Universität Koblenz

Kontakt: lina.glebsattel at googlemail.com

https://blog.uni-koblenz-landau.de/nairobi-regenzeit-und-reiselust/