APPEAR 15+2 Anniversary Event
Thursday, 28 May 2026, 14:00
K47, Franz-Josefs-Kai 47, 1010 Vienna
Launched at the end of 2009, APPEAR has taken many of us on an ambitious journey to new horizons in development policy, generating innovative scientific insights and fostering long-standing partnerships. Over the years, cooperation in research, teaching and management between higher education institutions in Austria and in APPEAR partner countries has fostered a community that brings together development policy concerns and the objectives of the SDGs with academically excellent research and sustainable solutions to improve social, cultural, ecological and economic living conditions. At the anniversary event, we would like to reflect and discuss, review achievements, and look ahead together.
Schedule
14:00 Arrival of Guests | Refreshments
14:30 – 16:00 Welcome and Review
- Welcome and Introductory Remarks: Andreas Obrecht (OeAD)
- Project Presentations by Jeninah Karungi (Makerere University, Uganda),… tbc
- Presentation of the APPEAR Programme Evaluation Results: Juliane Löw (CEval GmbH)
- Keynote Address: APPEAR in Context: Shaping Higher Education Cooperation – Strategic Relevance and Future Perspectives (working title): Claudia Zingerli (ETH Zürich)
16:00 – 16:30 Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:30 Metareflections on APPEAR: Experiences and Perspectives
- Presentations by Violet Kisakye (Mountains of The Moon University, Uganda), Tigran Keryan (BOKU) and Milena Klimek (BOKU)
- Synthesis Commentary on the Presentations, Michael Holländer (GIZ)
17:30 – 18:00 Break
18:00 – 18:30 Opening of the Evening Reception
- Video message by Federal Minister for European and International Affairs (tbc)
- Remarks by Representatives: Bernd Brünner (ADA Managing Director), Ulrich Hörmann (OeAD, Head Of Finance And Authorised Signatory)
- Remarks by Project Partners & Scholars: Stefanie Lemke (BOKU), Caroline Paparu (Muni University And BOKU)
- Music by Christina Zurbrügg
18:30 – 21:00 Reception and Networking
- Facilitator: Stella Asiimwe
The programme may be subject to alterations
Please register until 10 May 2026
During the first two phases of APPEAR from 2009 to 2020, 43 academic partnerships were implemented in a total of 20 countries. In the third phase, which runs until November 2027, a further 31 partnerships have been established. Overall, throughout the entire programme period, more than 220 students from partner countries have received support to pursue their master’s or PhD studies at an Austrian university.