GIRT-Staff Exchange with partner universities from Ethiopia and Mozambique in Krems

From June 10 to 18, 2025, an exchange took place at the University for Continuing Education Krems as part of the GIRT research project. Project partners from Ethiopia (Addis Ababa University, Bahir Dar University, University of Mekelle) and Mozambique (Lurio University) were guests in Krems to work together with Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Tania Berger and Dr. Elisabeth Huber, responsible for GIRT at the Department of Building and Environment, on central questions of the project.

The Staff Exchange provided space for intensive exchange, methodological development and strategic planning. The program included presentations of previous research results from the partner countries, discussions on transdisciplinary research questions from the perspective of female residents and local stakeholders, meetings on planned publications and a public appearance at the OeAD's “APPEAR in Practice Event” in Vienna.

A particular highlight for the department's staff was the GIRT poster walk at the DBU Café, where the project partners not only provided insights into the project, but also into the special features of their home countries over Ethiopian coffee and Striezel.

GIRT project: Improving the living conditions of women

The GIRT project focuses on the everyday lives of women in informal settlements and slums in Ethiopia and Mozambique. These settlements are often characterized by precarious housing conditions, a lack of infrastructure and insecure tenure. Women and children are particularly affected by the difficult living conditions - be it through a lack of access to sanitary facilities or limited economic participation. The aim of GIRT is to work together to identify areas and approaches that can lead to an improvement in the living conditions of women in specific informal settlements and slums.