For HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HOGENT) KA171 is an important instrument in realising its Internationalisation Policy Plan. The international country and partner policy of HOGENT aims at generating synergies and maximising impact through institutional strategic partnerships. HOGENT identified The African Great Lakes as a strategic region. Partners in KA171, contract 2022, in Rwanda (University of Rwanda, UR), Uganda (Mountains of the Moon University, MMU) and Ethiopia (Wolaita Sodo University, WSU) are priority strategic partners for HOGENT. Besides this, there has been a long standing relationship with Stellenbosch University (SU) in South Africa. The cooperation aimed at strengthening the existing networks through staff and student mobility and international projects. The ambition was to also open the collaborations towards other subject areas to identify flagship projects that could facilitate the achievement of interdisciplinary education and research goals of all institutions involved.