The LenteraDigiEx project assesses how an agricultural information platform, called “LenteraDesa” can be integrated into Government extension services. We randomized a two-sided training intervention to increase digital skills on both the demand and supply sides. While extension workers were trained to integrate the platform into their extension services, farmers were trained to use the information provided by the platform in their farm activities. We randomized two alternative types of training, one low-cost, which was offered entirely online, and one more intensive and more costly offering a blend of online and offline training. The intervention targeted “Millennial Farmers” (MFs), i.e., typically farmers below the age of 40 that the Government wants to attract to farming to counteract the aging of the agricultural sector.

We analyze the effect of the training interventions on the respondents' digital literacy, platform knowledge and use, extension workers' performance and capabilities, as well as farmers' adoption of practices and welfare, measured by agricultural productivity, sales, food security, and resilience.

The symposium was opened by Professor Martina Padmanabhan, Director of Studies, Professor Ulrich Bartosch, President of the University of Passau, and a welcome address by Dr Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Barbara Zacharias, Head of the International Office, and Professor Maximilian Seiler, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, also spoke.

The keynote speaker was Professor Ann-Katharina Hornidge, Director of the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), a research institute and think tank in Bonn. In particular, she emphasised the effects of the decline in (financial) commitment to development cooperation by Western countries and the increasing questioning of universal norms and values that until recently characterised international development policy. "In future, Germany will also increasingly have to cooperate with 'non-like-minded' countries in certain areas, such as the fight against climate change. This is shown by a series of voting results within the UN General Assembly. This makes it all the more important to clearly state the differences," she says.

In the ensuing discussion, Prof Jütting emphasised that development aid in the traditional sense is increasingly disappearing and needs to be rethought. "A foundation based solely on the international sustainability goals will no longer be capable of achieving a majority in the future," he believes. Prof Chusak made it clear that despite these developments, the need for action in many countries of the global South is still enormous. He emphasised the challenge faced by many Asian countries in maintaining a good economic and political relationship with the West and China at the same time. To round off the event, programme convenors Professor Michael Grimm, Professor Martina Padmanabhan and Professor Wolfram Schaffar presented their current research projects and discussed with the external experts how these fit into the context of "Development 2.0".

In addition to the new student initiative Ubunto Mondo, which was recently founded from the M.A. Development Studies programme, many alumni were also among the participants, some of whom had travelled from far away.

There was also a birthday present for the degree programme: a commitment from the DAAD for a further six years of support as part of the Helmut Schmidt Programme (HSP). The HSP allows up to ten excellent students on the degree programme to be awarded a scholarship each year. Up to 900 people from the Global South apply for the places each year. Deputy Director of Studies and applicant Professor Michael Grimm: "This acceptance is not only an award for a convincing application and a very good study programme, but also a unique selling point compared to many other similar programmes offered in Germany."

the Master’s program in Development Studies at the University of Passau took off in the academic year 2015/16. Since then, more than 340 students from over 65 countries have joined the program. Today, it stands as one of the university's most successful and internationally diverse study programs. Our alumni are now making meaningful contributions around the globe – in government and non-governmental organizations, international institutions, private enterprises, and academia.

To celebrate this and to reunite we organize a symposium on “The future of development – Development 2.0 in a changing world” on October 31, 2025 at Passau University. The program features scientific debates and keynotes by Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge (Director of the German Institute of Development and Sustainability, Bonn Germany), Prof. Dr. Johannes Jütting (Paris21 OECD, France) and Prof. Chusak Wittayapak (University of Chiang Mai, Thailand). The symposium takes place at ITZ (Room 017) on campus, but you are most welcome to join online from far and wide to get inspired by the talks, catch up and network.

Preparing for the symposium, we will hold a Masterclass on October 30^th, 2025 for currently enrolled students. To attend the symposium (either in-person or online) and/or the informal dinner, please register here until October 1^st: dvs-symposium-2025@uni-passau.de

Help Us Make This Event Special:
We would love to showcase your time in Passau! Please consider uploading:
Photos from your student days
A short video message (up to 2 minutes)
sharing where you are now or a favorite memory

You can upload your contributions and complete >>> a short alumni survey. The survey takes just a few minutes and helps us better understand your career paths and experiences.

Please do spread this invitation widely with all former students and via your informal networks. You are most welcome to share this invitation via email, WhatsApp and social media, so that we celebrate the 10th anniversary accordingly! We would like to be in touch with as many Alumni as possible and learn about yous careers. Unfortunately, we cannot cover any travel or accommodation costs.

We are looking forward to seeing you in-person or virtually in Passau!

Professor Dr. Martina Padmanabhan
Professor Dr. Michael Grimm
Professor Dr. Wolfram Schaffar

The event is supported by the ‘Friends and Sponsors of the University of Passau’ association.

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The workshop gathered academics, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, especially the Board of Extension Services, extension workers and farmers. Baseline data for the experiment has been collected in February and March 2025. The randomized interventions will be implemented in May and June 2025. A follow-up survey later this year will allow to estimate the first impacts.

More detailed article on the DPE website

Local inequality and crime: New evidence from South Africa

Nicolas Büttner is alumni of the Master Program in Development Studies and a former PhD candidate of the chair. After his doctorate at the University of Passau in 2022, Nicolas continued his research activities at ETH Zürich, where currently works as a postdoctoral researcher and research manager of the Development Economics Group.

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