MATE Expands Its Professional and Educational Partnerships in Africa

The Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) is further strengthening its presence in Africa through a training programme in Namibia and the development of new professional and business partnerships in Zambia. Dr Zoltán Lakner and Dr László Máthé represented the University during the professional programme held from 1 to 11 August 2026.​​​​​​

The first stop of the visit was Rundu in northern Namibia, where MATE and the MeOut Group jointly delivered a training-of-trainers programme at the Rundu Vocational Training Centre. The programme was organised as part of the PRO-S – PROmoting Sustainability and Innovation in Agricultural TVET Through Cross-sectoral Cooperations project.

The project aims to modernise agricultural vocational education and training, place greater emphasis on sustainability, and promote the transfer of innovative agricultural technologies and practical knowledge.

The training addressed several areas that are crucial to the future of African agriculture, including food security, sustainable farming, agricultural economics, value addition in agricultural production, precision agriculture, and the use of drone technologies in farming.

Following the programme in Namibia, the MATE delegation travelled by road to Zambia. The Zambian programme was organised with the support of the Lusaka Representation Office of the Embassy of Hungary in Pretoria, which helped facilitate a series of professional meetings and site visits.
Discussions focused on potential areas of cooperation that closely match MATE’s expertise in education, research and consultancy. Meetings with local business and professional stakeholders covered a broad range of topics, including agritourism, wildlife management, rural development, tropical livestock production, water security and water management, as well as opportunities for the development of agro-industrial parks.

Educational cooperation was also high on the agenda. The parties explored the possibility of developing short-, medium- and long-term training programmes that could support the development of local expertise while also strengthening MATE’s international educational presence. Such initiatives could also help encourage more African students to pursue their studies in Hungary.

The programmes in Namibia and Zambia form part of MATE’s broader efforts to build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships across Africa by drawing on the University’s expertise in education, research and knowledge transfer. The objective goes beyond implementing individual projects: MATE aims to establish a strong network of institutional and professional partnerships that can provide a foundation for future cooperation in education, research, innovation and agricultural development.

The partnerships established and further strengthened in Namibia and Zambia represent another important step in expanding MATE’s engagement in Africa. Building on the discussions held during the visit, the University plans to develop new projects in both countries, creating opportunities for joint professional programmes, expert cooperation, knowledge and technology transfer, as well as international student recruitment.