From 23–26 February 2026, Henk Stander from the Aquaculture Unit in the Department of Animal Science at Stellenbosch University (SU) participated in a workshop at Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor in Senegal. Stander represented the Stellenbosch University Water Institute at the event, which marked the first in-person consortium meeting for partners involved in the 2026 cycle of the ERASMUS+ European Union co-funded MASSTER project.

The Managing South Africa and Senegal Sustainability Targets through Economic Diversification of Rural Areas (MASSTER) project focuses on strengthening support for agricultural students and farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through innovative education and training initiatives implemented by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), the project promotes community development and adopts a whole-of-society approach within the agriculture, rural development and migration nexus.

MASSTER aligns with several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Quality Education (SDG 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12). A central aim of the project is to address migration-related challenges by creating sustainable economic opportunities in rural areas.

Six partner higher education institutions — three in Senegal and three in South Africa — collaborate to enhance institutional capacity and regional impact. The project supports these institutions in responding to the needs of local farmers, strengthening extension services with relevant, income-oriented training programmes, and assisting municipalities in better managing economic migration dynamics in rural contexts.

To achieve this, MASSTER analyses the risk factors driving migration as well as those that discourage it and develops targeted training programmes to enhance income-generation potential among future farmers. The project also strengthens collaboration between HEIs and extension services to deliver effective training to both farmers and students, while supporting institutions in developing sustainable migration management mechanisms.

By adopting a transdisciplinary approach, MASSTER integrates agriculture, rural development, food security and migration into a coherent regional development framework. The project emphasises the interconnectedness of these sectors and seeks to enhance the capacity and relevance of local actors — particularly HEIs — in advancing sustainable development in both Senegal and South Africa.

To learn more about the MASSTER project, visit: https://www.masster-project.de