Research Excellence in Ethiopia: A Virtual Roundtable Conference
In my previous blog, I identified five tips for successful and sustainable investment in Ethiopia. One of the tips was to work with Ethiopian universities and research centers, and the major role the Ethiopian Diaspora can play in realizing the collaboration.
However, there are also several barriers for diaspora professionals that can frustrate their initiatives in doing so. That is where the Connecting Diaspora for Development (CD4D) programme came in handy for me. Run by IOM, CD4D facilitated my overseas assignment in 2018 at Wollo University in Ethiopia. Since then, I have been engaged in a number of initiatives which will be the topics of my future blogs.
Ethiopian research institutions need to improve the quality, quantity, and diversity of their research outputs. That was one of my main observations when I was in Ethiopia as an IOM volunteer. To help address this crucial issue, which underlies many other issues such as the quality of education, I partnered with colleagues, some of whom are of Ethiopian origin, to organise a virtual roundtable conference on January 27, 2022, on the topic of Research Excellence in Ethiopia. Please follow this Zoom link to join the conference (Meeting ID: 613 9866 2458, Passcode: E0Ve05$X).
The conference will offer a very good opportunity to learn from each other and network. Many members of Ethiopian and European research institutes and related organisations such as businesses, international organisations, and NGOs will participate in the conference.
Conference initiators and organisers are me from Wageningen University, Dr. Azeb Amha of Leiden University, Prof. Mammo Muchie of Tshwane University of Technology, Dr. Solomon Benor of the Ministry of Education of Ethiopia, Mr. Declan Kirrane of the African-European Radio Astronomy Platform (AERAP), and Dr. Thomas Ammerl and Mrs. Melanie Schulte of the Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR), Free State of Bavaria, Germany. The conference details are provided below and please stay tuned for any changes and updates on the conference details.
CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH EXCELLENCE IN ETHIOPIA THROUGH NORTH-SOUTH COLLABORATIONS
Thursday, 27 January 2022
Members of Tshwane University of Technology (www.tut.ac.za), Wageningen University (wur.nl), Leiden University (universiteitleiden.nl), BayFOR (bayfor.org) and AERAP (aerapscience.org) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education (moe.gov.et) are organizing a virtual roundtable conference on 27 January 2022 with the following major objectives::
- To share experiences among universities, research institutions, and funding organizations that are relevant for research excellence in Ethiopia.
- To initiate strong research collaboration between European and Ethiopian Universities and research institutions.
- To create research excellence and mobility programs among selected north-south universities and research institutions.
Session 1: A discussion session among the north-south officials
This is the opening session in which country officials will present and discuss research and development topics.
Time and duration
Time: 9:00 –10:30 CET (8:00 –9:30 GMT, 10:00–11:30 SAST, 11:00–12:30 EAT). Duration: 1½ hour
Presentation topics
In this opening and high-level panel discussion, the following topics will be discussed: Research and development priorities of Ethiopia, Challenges and opportunities of research and recommendations to bring its excellence in Ethiopia, Possible areas of research collaborations between EU and Ethiopian Universities and research institutions, and the EU Horizon funding program and how it can bring partnerships and research excellence in Ethiopia.
Moderators: Prof. Mammo Muchie, Dr. Azeb Amha and Dr. Ayalew Kassahun
Speakers
1. H.E. Dr. Samuel Kifle, State Minister, Ethiopian Ministry of Education: Opening speech, highlighting research and development policy priorities of Ethiopia in general and the Ministry of Education in particular. Possible South-South and North-South research collaborations. (10 min)
2. Mr. Declan Kirrane, Horizon Europe, Coordinator of AERAP: What can the EU Horizon program mean for Ethiopia and how Ethiopia can exercise influence in that process. (10 min)
3. Ir. Jennie van der Mheen-Sluijer, Manager International Cooperation Africa at Wageningen University: Past and present collaboration with Ethiopian Universities and Wageningen University’s potential research collaboration areas with Ethiopian Universities and research institutions in the future. (10 min)
4. Prof. Dr. Jon Abbink, Leiden University: Past and present research collaboration with Ethiopian Universities and research institutions. Leiden University’s potential future research collaboration areas with Ethiopian Universities and research institutions; thematic areas for research funding, potential funding options for Ethiopian Universities and research institutions. (10 min)
5. Prof. Dr. Alessandro Bausi, Director of the Hiob Ludolf Centre for Ethiopian and Eritrean Studies (HLCEES) at Hamburg University: Past and present research collaboration with Ethiopian Universities and research institutions and a short overview of the activities of the Asien-Afrika-Institut of Hamburg University. (10 min)
Q&A / discussion: Chair: Mr. Declan Kirrane (20 min)
Session 2: Discussion among north-south universities
This is the second session that goes in-depth on the research collaboration ambitions of Ethiopian and European Universities.
Time and duration
Time: 11:30 –13:30 CET (10:30 –12:30 GMT, 12:30–14:00 SAST, 13:30–15:00 EAT). Duration: 1½ hours
Presentation topics
In this second session, the following topics will be addressed: the current organizational structure and research landscape of Ethiopian Universities and research institutions; the Ethiopian national research strategies and priority areas; how do the various institutions plan to excel in research; and the research focus of European and Ethiopian Universities and possible areas of collaborations.
Moderator: Dr. Solomon Benor and Prof. Mammo Muchie
Speakers
1. Dr. Solomon Benor, Director General for Science and Research Affairs, Ministry of Education (MoE): Research ecosystem of Ethiopia, Ethiopian research strategies and priority areas, the organizational structure of Ethiopian Universities. (5 min)
2. Dr. Ayalew Kassahun, Dr. Azeb Amha and Prof. Mammo Muchie, researchers at European Universities: Outline of the structure of Wageningen, Leiden and Tshawne Universities; the state of research excellence and possible areas of collaborations with Ethiopian Universities and research institutions. (5 min)
3. Dr. Thomas Ammerl and Mrs. Melanie Schulte, Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR): Outline how to increase research cooperation between Bavarian, European and Ethiopian stakeholders from academia, research, and public authorities. (5 min)
4. Prof. Carsten Lorz, Hochschule Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (HSWT): Successful cooperation between Bavaria and Ethiopia in applied higher education, life sciences and agribusiness. (5 min.)
5. Dr. Dereje Engida, President of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU): The state of research excellence at AASTU and possible areas of collaborations with the EU partners. (5 min)
6. Dr. Binyam Tilahun, Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer, University of Gonder (UoG): The state of research excellence at UoG and possible areas of collaborations with the EU partners. (5 min)
7. Dr. Anegagregne Gashaw, President of Debre Tabor University (DTU): The state of research excellence at DTU and possible areas of collaborations with the EU partners. (5 min)
8. Dr. Wondwossen Tamirat, President of St Mary’s University (SMU): The state of research excellence at SMU and possible areas of collaborations with the EU partners. (5 min)
9. Prof. Stephan Little, Tshwane University of Technology, SARChI Innovation Research Group: Research excellence, priorities of Tshwane University and potential north-south research collaboration. (5 min)
Q&A / discussion: Chairs: Prof. Mammo Muchie and Dr. Solomon Benor (30 min)
Session 3: Discussion among research institutes, innovators, and practitioners
This is the third session that deals with north-south and south-south collaborations, their societal impacts, and innovations
Time and duration
Time: 14:00 –15:30 CET (13:00 –14:30 GMT, 15:00–16:30 SAST, 16:00–17:30 EAT). Duration: 1½ hours
Presentation topics
In this session, possible areas of collaborations among Ethiopian Research and Science Organizations and international institutions will be addressed and identified.
Moderator: Prof. Teketel Yohannes
Speakers
1. Prof. Teketel Yohannes, Executive Director Ethiopian Academy of Science (EAS): Speaks about the EAS and possible areas of collaborations with domestic and European research institutions (5 min)
2. Dr. Feto Esimo, Director General of Ethiopian Institutes of Agricultural Research (EIAR): The state of research excellence at EIAR and possible areas of collaborations with the EU partners. (5 min)
3. Dr. Tilaye Teklewold, Director General of Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI): The state of research excellence at ARARI and possible areas of collaborations with EU partners. (5 min)
4. Dr. Tilahun Amede, Head, Resilience, Climate & Soil Fertility. Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Nairobi, Kenya: The state of R&D at AGRA and possible partnership opportunities with Ethiopian universities and research institutions. (5 min)
5. Dr. Rahel Belete, Founder of Kilimanjaro consulting and Kilimanjaro Treading PLC. (5 min)
6. Dr. Kinde Tesfaye, Scientist at International Wheat and Maize Research Institute (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa: The state of research excellence at CIMMYT and possible areas of collaborations with Ethiopian Universities and research institutions. (5 min)
7. Dr. Adane Gebeyaw Kassa, Director of Institutional Research, Prairie State College, USA: The need for institutional research to play a critical role in enhancing quality of higher education in Ethiopia. (5 min)
