The Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) is further expanding its international support for young researchers: For the first time, four scholarships have been awarded to Master's and doctoral students via the HNEE Centre for International Affairs as part of the HAW.International:Research and Transfer Stays programme. The programme is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

With the scholarships, HNEE specifically supports young academics in gaining valuable international research experience, establishing academic networks and sharpening their academic profile through joint publications. The prerequisite for funding is that the planned research or teaching projects at the partner universities demonstrate academic or professional relevance.

"The international orientation of research is a central concern for HNEE. With HAW.International, we offer our young academics the opportunity to investigate globally relevant topics on site and at the same time strengthen long-term collaborations," emphasises university president Matthias Barth.

HNEE cooperates with four international partner universities as part of the programme: the Thai Nguyen University for Economics and Business Administration (Vietnam), the Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam (Ecuador), the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) and Western Colorado University (USA).

The following were selected for the first round of funding:

• Maximilian Plenert (Master's degree course Sustainable Corporate Management, Germany) - research stay in Vietnam on sustainable supply chains in the tea and coffee trade.
• Niall Petit-Erskine (Master's degree course Sustainable Tourism Management, France) - research stay in Ecuador on community based tourism.
• Caroline Meier (PhD, Germany, PhD supervision Prof. Dr. Heike Walk) - Research stay in Canada on the historical development of socially just sustainability concepts in the UNESCO programme Man and the Biosphere programme.
• Nafisa Mirzojamshedzoda (PhD, Tajikistan, PhD supervision Prof. Dr Martin Welp) - Research stay in Canada on water and resource security and sustainable water management.

By participating in HAW.International, HNEE not only strengthens its international cooperation, but also the scientific visibility and career opportunities of its young researchers. The programme complements the university's diverse international activities and underlines HNEE's claim to combine practice-oriented research with global issues.