As part of the academic exchange program Erasmus+, Associate Professor Karolína Brandlová and Professor Pavla Hejcmanová visited Université de Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR). This collaboration began in October 2024 and is now progressing with concrete steps towards scientific and educational cooperation between the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at CULS and this university in the capital of CAR, Bangui.
During their visit, the two academics received a warm welcome from local colleagues and students. They delivered lectures on ecology and wildlife conservation, which gained great interest from students and the academic community. An important part of their mission was also selecting students who will travel to FTZ in Prague for an academic exchange next year.
In addition to their professional activities, the professors explored the capital city of Bangui, which lies on the Ubangi River, marking the border between CAR and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although no bridge exists between the two countries, traditional pirogues facilitate a busy movement of people back and forth. Despite its history of civil conflicts, Bangui still offers many interesting places to discover.
The surrounding area of Bangui is home to fascinating projects, such as the farm of the Carmel Monastery in Bimbo. This farm was established on the site of a former oil palm plantation and is currently being transformed into a multifunctional agricultural center. Its production includes fruit, vegetables, local animal products, and specialties such as local cheeses and spices. The farm also serves as a training center for agricultural students.
The cooperation between FTZ and Université de Bangui continues to deepen, and this visit has opened up many new opportunities not only for students but also for joint projects in the fields of ecology, nature conservation, and sustainable agriculture.
The visit was made possible thanks to the Erasmus+ KA171 programme.
