Students of bachelor's, master's, teaching, law or medical degree programmes at Bavarian universities or universities of applied sciences can flexibly integrate the content of the three-semester certificate programme into their respective schedules. Lectures, seminars, and project work usually take place as online courses, partly in German and partly in English. At the beginning of the programme, all participants are invited to a workshop at the University of Bayreuth.
The courses in afriZert are divided into the modules "Encountering Africa differently", "Africa in and with the world", "Language and communication" and "Subject-specific knowledge". Lecturers from the University of Bayreuth as well as lecturers from other Bavarian universities contribute to the design of these modules. In addition, the study programme is repeatedly supplemented by contributions from international guests from the fields of education, business, and international organizations. Another central component of afriZert is an academic or work placement abroad lasting several weeks. Students can apply to the University of Bayreuth for a scholarship for this purpose, the financing of which is made possible by the Foundation for International Youth Exchange Bavaria.
"The University of Bayreuth has been working trustfully with universities and research institutions in all regions of Africa for decades. It is therefore predestined to share experiences and findings from these collaborations and from scientific inquiries into Africa-related issues with students from other Bavarian universities and universities of applied sciences. We are therefore very pleased with the trust placed in us by the State Ministry of Science and the Arts in the establishment of this Bavarian-wide certificate programme. In addition, afriZert aims to provide students with personal experience of living and working in Africa – not least with a view to future careers – so that they are able to critically question widespread clichés. It is therefore a great contribution to our new programme that the Foundation for International Youth Exchange Bavaria financially supports students' stays abroad," says Dr. Claudia Gebauer, coordinator of afriZert at the University of Bayreuth.
