Funding

German universities, together with their partner institutions in developing countries (DCs), have made a considerable effort for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Considering this initiative, in 2009 the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) launched the program “Exceed - Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation”, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The aim is to bundle the commitment of German universities and their partners in developing countries and make it visible to the public. The initiative was also designed to make research and teaching cooperation between German universities and universities in countries of the global South more useful for development cooperation.

The main objectives of the program are as follows:

Long-term programme objectives include

• Participating HEIs have acquired expertise in development cooperation.

• Developmental networks that include non-university protagonists and pay special attention to women and disadvantaged groups are established.
• These networks have provided solutions to challenging developmental issues.
• Graduates are committed to overcoming developmental challenges.  

Medium-term programme objectives include

• Decentralized network governance is assured by means of clear procedures and defined processes.
• Non-university protagonists are involved in the strategies that ensure the networks’ knowledge transfer and sustainability.
• Research results relating to developmental issues are available and are being disseminated.
• Master´s degree students and doctoral candidates have successfully completed study programmes/ doctoral projects and are suitably integrated within the labour market according to their skills.
• Participating HEIs are offering application-oriented master’s and doctoral programmes that are commensurate with the state of scientific knowledge.
• Teaching and mentoring at the participating HEIs are strengthened by the inclusion of ICT-based methods.  

(Source: DAAD)

2009–2019: Establishment Phase

In the Establishment Phase (2009-2019), five initiatives were supported by the program:

• Excellence Center for Development Cooperation - Sustainable Water Management, Technische Universität Braunschweig - Institute of Technology
• Food Security Center (FSC), University of Hohenheim
• International Center for Development and Decent Work (ICDD), University of Kassel
• Center for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD), Cologne University of Applied Sciences
• Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich

After an overall positive evaluation following the first phase from 2009-2014, the programme was transferred into the second phase from 2015 to 2019 with the existing five projects. In this phase, graduates were qualified to take on leadership positions of responsibility in their respective fields.

2020–2029: Advancing Academic Collaboration for Sustainable Development 

In the current funding phase, the focus is on strengthening international teaching and research collaboration, with Exceed networks supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes updating curricula, hosting workshops and conferences, and promoting exchange among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. The networks also aim to enhance their global profile, train top master’s and doctoral candidates, and advance equity by supporting women and disadvantaged groups. Numerous research projects and publications address development cooperation within the 2030 Agenda framework. (Source: DAAD)

The following 7 projects are supported within the scope of Exceed within the framework of this phase and the funding phase from 2020 to 2024 – including the One Health project "OH-TARGET" of CIH^LMU : 

• OH-TARGET - One Health Training and Research Global Network,  Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich and partners
• GPN - Global Partnership Network, University of Kassel 
• SDG Nexus Network, Justus Liebig University Giessen and partners
• GCSMUS - Global Center of Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability, Berlin Institute of Technology and partners
• ACCESS - African Centre for Career Enhancement & Skills Support, University of Leipzig and partners
• SOLID - Social Work and Strengthening of NGOs in Development Cooperation, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and partners
• SEED - Sustainable Energies, Entrepreneurship and Development, Technical University of Munich and partners

Learn more about the funding programme and the network partners here on the programme website.