EduLAND2 project is coming to the end. As known, it was a four years project which started March 1, 2016 and ends in February 2020. Its main purpose was to contribute to sustainable development of the nation by supporting the land administration practices in Ethiopia. Its support was designed on capacity building in land administration. Accordingly, the focus was establishment and strengthening of Land Administration Institute at Debre Markos University. The institute is established since September 2016 and other project activities were accomplished successfully as planned.

The main work packages of the project were capacity building; curriculum development and implementation; fulfillment of teaching materials (like RTK GPS, Total Station 3D stereos, Reference books, …); establishing and furnishing of the computer lab; joint research activities; project management; and delivery of demand driven community services. Under each work package, there are detailed activities. These activities were properly planned in the whole project year and each year’s evaluation was conducted annually at the presence of advisory board members of the project. Accordingly, the kick-off meeting was conducted at Debre MArkos University; the first year’s project accomplishment at BOKU; the second year evaluation at Bahir Dar University; the third at Debre Markos University and the finally meeting at BOKU, Vienna.

This final year project evaluation meeting was held from February 13 – 16/2020. The program on February 13 was started by welcome address and introduction of BOKU by Univ.Prof. Dr. Clement Atzberger – head of the institute of geo-informatics; introduction of partner institutions and PM participants; BOKU – International Relations: Possibilities of cooperation and staff exchange with African countries by Dipl.-Ing. Katrin Hasenhündl – Deputy Head of BOKU International Relations. Then, the activities and results achieved during the whole project period were presented by project coordinators and discussion conducted about activities and results achieved during the whole project period. The discussions continued on February 14 as well as the annual financial accomplishment evaluations; discussion on follow-up activities to keep close partnership, dissemination of activities after project period were presented and round table discussion conducted. On February 15, a cultural excursion was organized which enabled the participants to see the very interesting and beautiful scene of rural Austria with the destination to Rax mountain. Rax Mountain was covered with snow and really we enjoyed being there and got a lot of experience.

It is very difficult to go to the pick of Rax Mountain on foot. Accordingly, the team used Rax cable-car (Rax Seilbahn) in order to climb Rax Mountain. We were very much fascinated while climbing that big mountain by the cable car. Ethiopia has many mountainous areas which are attractive for tourists but climbing to the pick is often challenging. To use such kind of technologies is very essential to attract tourist by creating conducive environment for visit of some astonishing mountains.

Last but not least, I would like to thank profoundly Reinfried MANSBERGER (Ass Prof) for his overall coordination of the project and for successfully organizing this year’s Vienna annual and final project evaluation meeting associated with astonishing Rax mountain visit.