AFROTRANS PROJECT

Summary of project

The country’s transport system is often compared to the human bloodstream. Thus, it is the most important element in delivering goods to any place in the country or region. Over the past decades, population growth in African countries has resulted in a much greater demand for agricultural and industrial goods. Most of the goods are produced far from the final recipient, so it requires delivery. On the other hand, we have an increasing need for people to move both to get to workplaces, medical care points, places of trade or tourist attractions.

 These factors indicate the great importance of transport systems and an extremely significant impact on the economic development of the country and region, and one of its main elements is the road transport system. However, the development of this system requires highly specialized management staff, providing broadly understood transport services, as well as having knowledge in the field of Road Transportation Systems Engineering (RTSE). Ensuring this staff is necessary to increase the chances for economic development, and increase the wealth of society, especially in developing countries, such as the Sub-Saharan Africa area. Since universities play a leading role in educating appropriate staff, it becomes necessary to prepare an education process that would enable the transfer of this knowledge and to prepare appropriate curricula along with didactic materials in the area of RTSE.

RTSE is an area where various issues come together: fundamentals of transport systems and processes, sustainable transport planning, road transport research and analysis, road infrastructure safety management, logistic management, road construction and maintenance. It is also an area of knowledge in which constant changes are taking place (development of modern means of transport, implementation of intelligent vehicles, construction of new roads, economic development of society, increase in the number of elderly people as road users, etc.), which requires adaptation of methods, tools and activities affecting for the development of this subject and, consequently, curricula. Due to the large differences in the level of knowledge between European countries and Sub-Saharan Africa, international cooperation is necessary, the aim of which will be to transfer the knowledge and experience of European Universities to regions with a lower level of education. Transfer of knowledge from three European universities (Gdansk University of Technology, Alpen Adria University, Bauhaus University of Weimar) with a renowned position in the field of Road Transportation Systems Engineering and specialized staff to 5 five universities located in Cameroon and DR Congo (Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs, Université de l’Assomption au Congo, Université Officielle de Ruwenzori, University of Dschang, Institute of Technology of Industry, Management and Entrepreneurship) as part of the AfroTrans project will be a response to the existing needs in this area of technical knowledge.

Implementation works under the AfroTrans project have been divided into 6 work packages, which will result in 27 tasks. Tasks T1.1-T1.5 will include project management. Tasks T2.1 – T2.2 will develop a framework for new curricula for five DR Congo and Cameroon universities. As part of tasks T3.1-T3.6, 12 master’s courses in the field of Road Transportation Systems Engineering will be developed at selected universities. Tasks T4.1-T4.2 teachers, researchers, students will undergo a two-week training at universities in Europe. As part of the T4.3 task, modern transport laboratories will be built. The above-mentioned activities will allow the opening of new fields of study (implementation of tasks T5.1-T5.2) in Cameroon and DR Congo. The final quest pack T6.1-T6.2 will be responsible for the Dissemination of the project.

The main goal of the AfroTrans project is to develop a new master’s curriculum:

1. Building an e-learning platform with access to the Project’s products;

2. Development of didactic materials in the area of Road Transportation Systems Engineering, dedicated to conducting classes at universities and training courses;

3. Increasing competence and skills in the field of RTSE by changing the curricula at universities and equipping students and staff with teaching materials based on innovative methods and tools;

4. Development of lasting relations and continuation of active international cooperation between the Project partners with the possibility of extending it to other institutions.

The AfroTrans project is aimed at the following target groups:

1. Students, scientists and academic teachers at universities.

2. Staff of road authorities at the national, regional and local levels.

3. Employees of transport and logistics companies who can acquire the necessary knowledge affecting their personal and professional development.

4. All users of the transport system in DR Congo and Cameroon, as an indirect target group for whom the development of transport will improve the quality of life, economic growth and accessibility to transport services.