A seminar entitled “Experience Sharing on Grant Writing” was held on the 16th of May, 2024. Guests from two universities namely from Ghent University (Prof, Inge Brinkman) and The University of Nairobi (Dr. James Wachira) were leading presenters of the Grant Writing seminar.
The event began by Dr. Dheressa Dhebu, the director of the Institute of Oromo Studies (IOS). He briefly introduced how IOS was established and the major contributions and activities done thus far. As one of the roles of Institutes in Jimma University is to actively work on grant writings and establish network at international level, the then Director of the Institute (IOS) 
Dr. Teshome Egere created a link with Department of African Languages and Cultures in Ghent University, Belgium. That was developed to a collaboration whereby a MoU was signed between Jimma University and Ghent University. Since then, collaborative works were made in areas of student exchange, staff exchange, exchange of knowledge and expertise. Following that the two universities in collaboration with University of Nairobi wrote a grant writing and won a five years grant entitled “Storytelling and Young People Coping with Crisis: Oral Narratives and Crisis Management in Kenya and Ethiopia”.
Prof. Inge, a leading Professor in Ghent University shared here experience that grant writing enable institutions solve global concerns such as gender, health, poverty and ecological crises and many other issues. Dr. James Wachira, from the University of Nairobi also shared his experience that focusing on one’s purpose is important in writing a grant. He also emphasized on time as one of the determining factors towards the success in grant writing is time itself.
In sum, both addressed time, purpose, considering failing (if it happens) as investment as one can gain an experience for the next grant writing, coherence in developing a grant proposal, the need for consistent and continuous trial(never to lose hope)in applying to different organizations are some of the major issues raised during the experience sharing . Eventually, Dr. Dheressa Dhebu officially closed the seminar.