Barbara Scharfbillig

Barbara Scharfbillig serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Geography and its Didactics at the University of Trier since October 2023. She leads the elective module 'Education for Sustainable Development' in the Master of Education program and coordinates the 'Exchange of German and Namibian Educators' professional exchange initiative. Beyond her university role, she is a certified Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) trainer in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, Managing Director of the German-Namibian association Suni e.V., and a lecturer in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's 'Education meets Development' program.

Her educational background includes an M.A. in Management of Cultural and Non-Profit Organizations, a B.A. in Cultures and Languages of Africa & Educational Sciences, and professional training as a nurse. This diverse foundation supports her interdisciplinary approach to development education.

Scharfbillig's research centers on critical approaches to international cooperation with emphasis on decolonial perspectives. Her work explores Education for Sustainable Development through practical applications in German-Namibian contexts, particularly focusing on the Omaheke region of Namibia. She investigates multiperspectivity in teacher training, colonial continuities in development work, and the acquisition of intercultural competencies. Her methodology often employs Design-Based Research to develop tangible educational resources that address real-world challenges in cross-cultural settings.

Her publications reveal a consistent focus on practical educational materials and critical reflection on power dynamics in North-South partnerships. The trajectory shows increasing sophistication in developing bilateral educational frameworks that respect local knowledge systems while addressing global sustainability challenges. Her work bridges academic theory with grassroots implementation, particularly evident in her German-Namibian exchange programs and educational materials development.

• 2024: Teaching Award of the University of Trier for the seminar 'Education for Sustainable Development / Perspectives, Learning Locations and Practical Exercises for Geography Teaching (WS 2023/2024)'
• 2017: Winner of the 'Volunteering 4.0' Idea Competition in Rhineland-Palatinate
• 2011: Support and Honor Award 'Filippas Engel' for young Europeans

Scharfbillig mentors students in developing German-Namibian learning units and leads multiple projects including the 'German-Namibian Exchange of Educators' (2024-2025) and the 'EvoNam' project (2025-2026) researching student conceptions of evolution in Namibia. Her grant-funded work emphasizes practical application and bilateral knowledge exchange rather than traditional research funding models.

She collaborates extensively with the Geography and its Didactics team at the University of Trier, working closely with Suni e.V., the Namibian Light for the Children Foundation, and the Directorate of Education, Omaheke Regional Council. Her team approach emphasizes co-creation of educational materials with Namibian partners, ensuring authentic representation of local contexts and knowledge systems.