NEXTFOOD will drive the crucial transition to more sustainable and competitive agrifood and forestry systems development by designing and implementing education and training systems to prepare budding or already practicing professionals with competencies to push the green shift in our rapidly changing society. NEXTFOOD will challenge the linear view of knowledge transfer as a top-down process from research to advice and practice, and support the transition to more learner-centric, participatory, action-based and action-oriented education and learning in agrifood and forestry systems. In several pioneering case studies, covering agrifood and forestry systems in Europe, Asia and Africa, farmers solve real challenges related to sustainability together with researchers, students and other relevant stakeholders while developing both green technical skills and soft collaborative competencies. NEXTFOOD will assure quality in research and education by creating a peer-review system for evaluation of practice-oriented research outputs focusing on sustainability and practical usefulness. In addition, we will develop an international accreditation framework for education and training in fields relevant to sustainable agrifood and forestry systems. An innovative action research process will guide the NEXTFOOD project’s development in a cyclical manner, ensuring that the research process and actual case studies are ever-improving. This will exemplify how practice-oriented research can be instrumental to achieve: better collaboration between university and society, more innovation in the agrifood and forestry systems sector, and a progressive agrifood community ready to tackle complex sustainability challenges of the 21st century

SES helps Ethiopian cities to solve problems related to housing poor urban communities by supporting these communities rather than evicting them from their informal settlements. It aims at improving poor residents’ security in housing and their access to energy needs ranging from sustainable energy systems through to the management of energy efficiency. Consequently this project has an impact on reducing the number of refugees coming to Europe.The project introduces a holistic approach in Ethiopian HEI’s existing academic programs for future urban developers and energy managers as well as educating key personnel in local authorities.SES will develop new courses for architects, planners and engineers based on specific case studies undertaken in 3 target regions. Courses will be offered at undergraduate and master level, but also external training as stakeholder training and dissemination workshops. Experiences gained in these courses will be integrated into the curricula of the partner HEIs, which will be approved by their senates and accreditation will be sought. Students will acquire up-to-date knowledge in the socially highly relevant field of informal settlements and their energy management as well as the sustainable management of such projects. Thereby, students will improve their employability. HEIs will sharpen their education and research profile in this field and strengthen their ties with engaged stakeholders (local and regional authorities, national housing authorities, local NGOs, local communities). Municipalities, local and regional authorities and NGOs will benefit from hiring well trained graduates who help them to solve problems related to informal settlements and their energy management. Affected poor urban residents of informal settlements will benefit from pilot interventions and improve their quality of life.