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MaDE-for-UASs stands for Methodology and Didactic Education for Universities of Applied Sciences. It is a three-year European–Ethiopian capacity-building project (2024–2027) that modernises how Universities of Applied Sciences prepare lecturers and students for the World of Work—using project-based learning, VR, AR, and industrial simulation.

MaDE-for-UASs is co-funded by the European Union under Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE). The Grant Agreement number is 101179337. Views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority.

The project runs for 36 months from 2024 to 2027, covering dual national centres, Training of Trainers cascades, open didactic products, piloting, quality monitoring, and dissemination so results can outlast the grant window.

Many applied-science programmes remain theory-heavy: limited workplace rehearsal, safety and cost barriers, uneven industry links, and graduates who lack process confidence. MaDE responds with immersive didactics, operational centres, and a national trainer cascade.

Four objectives guide delivery: strengthen practical skills of educators; deepen World-of-Work understanding and academia–industry collaboration; improve technical education quality for students; and empower educators and students with VR, AR, and simulation in a company-like learning environment.

Headline targets include engaging 50,000+ students through new and updated courses, training about 3,000 academic staff, inspiring five or more practice-oriented courses with placements, and building toward 60 certified master trainers—alongside operational dual hubs and an active National Resonance Group.

University lecturers gain immersive teaching skills and cascade capacity; students gain safer, experiential learning; institutions gain centres, open tools, and quality frameworks; industry and society benefit when graduates arrive with stronger process competence.

Change follows Transfer → Equip → Multiply → Sustain: European–Ethiopian co-design, Pedagogy and Technology Centres, certified master trainers, and open tools plus NRG industry advice so methods outlast the grant. MaDE is not a one-off workshop series.

Kotebe University of Education is Project Lead Coordinator. Dire Dawa University is co-coordinator and piloting lead. European partners include Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences, TH OWL, and Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, with additional Ethiopian implementing and associated partners.

Implementing partners include KUE, Dire Dawa University, Federal TVET Institute, St. Mary's University, Aksum University, Assosa University, ThumbsUp Social Entrepreneurs PLC, Hochschule Heilbronn, TH OWL, and Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. Associated partners include the Federal Ministry of Education, Ethiopian Engineering Group, and additional universities. See Partners portfolio for full profiles.

The MaDE-Pedagogy Center at Kotebe University of Education focuses on teacher development, ToT, and didactic research. The MaDE-Technology Center at Dire Dawa University focuses on XR production, industrial simulation, and hands-on lab capacity. Together they form the dual-hub backbone of the project.

Yes—the NRG is already operating. It is a public–private advisory council linking universities, industry, and TVET actors. It was formally launched on 28 October 2025 in Addis Ababa with an Advisory Charter and MoU, and remains a key vehicle for World-of-Work alignment beyond the grant lifetime.

Six major deliverables structure the offer: Toolbox 2.0 for immersive learning; open-source VR/AR and simulation handbooks; the MaDE-Pedagogy Center; the MaDE-Technology Center; a national network of certified trainers (target 60); and the National Resonance Group. Explore them under Resources and Deliverables.

Yes. Handbooks and learning modules are prepared under open-access principles for national reuse via NADRE and the project website, so partner and non-partner institutions can adopt methods after project end.

ToT equips selected UAS lecturers to design, deploy, and facilitate VR/AR and simulation-based teaching, then cascade skills to colleagues. Core ToT has already certified dozens of master trainers from partner institutions, with further cascade events through 2026–2027. Calls appear under Career & Opportunities and project news.

Immersive environments create a risk-free bridge to physical practice. Students can rehearse hazardous or capital-intensive tasks before using live equipment—raising process confidence while reducing safety risk and equipment cost barriers.

Project overview, partners portfolio, core team, impact and work packages, news and events, multimedia, open deliverables and tools, impact stories, National Resonance Group, career and training calls, and contact channels. Use main navigation or About sub-tabs for overview, partners, team, and FAQ.

Use the Get Involved / Contact page. Coordination email: madeeu@kue.edu.et. Career and training announcements list focal contacts. Industry actors may engage through the National Resonance Group and partner channels.

Partner Login gives consortium members access to internal resources reserved for implementing partners. Public visitors do not need an account to read news, overview pages, open materials, or submit general contact forms.

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