As part of the LINK Project titled “Establishing Transformative Learning, Research and Community Outreach and Capacities in Agroecology,” Bahir Dar University (BDU), in collaboration with the University College for Agrarian and Environmental Pedagogy (HAUP), Austria, has been conducting a series of capacity-building trainings for its academic staff major stakeholders in the implementation of the LINK Project. 

Since April 2025, ten sessions—nine virtual and one hybrid—have been delivered on Transformative Learning (TL), Green Pedagogy, and Participatory Action Research. The trainings are designed to strengthen the teaching, research, and community engagement capacities of BDU’s agroecology and agroforestry program staff.

Participants included BDU faculty members as well as researchers from the Amhara Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Ethiopian Forest Development (EFD), and the Amhara Environment and Forest Protection Authority, many of whom also serve as guest instructors, student advisors, and examiners at BDU.

The sessions were led by senior experts from HAUP, Austria, who brought extensive experience in agroecology education and research, including practical insights relevant to the African context.

Feedback from participants highlighted the effectiveness of the training in deepening understanding of key concepts such as transformative learning theory, epistemological diversity, green pedagogy, and complex systems thinking. Trainees also emphasized the relevance of integrating indigenous knowledge and local experiences into the teaching-learning process.

The training has already begun to foster a shift toward more student-centered learning, contextualized curricula, and action-oriented research within BDU’s agroecology programs—helping bridge the gap between local realities and academic learning.

The LINK Project continues to serve as an important platform for transforming higher education practices toward sustainability, inclusivity, and community relevance.