Both, the research program and the courses offered to graduate students will be synergistic. Courses will represent the full spectrum of the involved disciplines, and the majority of courses will be designed to satisfy the needs of a broad audience with varied scientific backgrounds. A two-hour lecture series and an accompanying seminar on various aspects of Earth Surface Processes in the African-Asian Monsoonal region will form the backbone of this program and set the stage for interdisciplinary activities between group members. In addition, a weekly PhD student seminar will be held in which graduate students present their research proposals and results of ongoing studies. Our experience in the graduate school has shown that this format of bringing together students from a variety of backgrounds is excellent. This concept stimulates curiosity, discussion, cooperation and fosters interdisciplinary work. In addition to these lectures and seminars, it is planned to offer short courses on different topics ranging from geology and tectonic geomorphology, statistical methods in geosciences, geographic information systems, remote sensing, to soft skills, such as presentation techniques and public speaking.