A high-level delegation led by Prof. He Xingyang, Vice President of Hubei University of Technology (HBUT) in China, visited Jimma University on September 27, 2025. The purpose of the visit was to formalize an agreement to establish a “China-Africa Demonstration Base for Technology Innovation and Transfer.” This event highlights the commitment of both institutions to enhance international educational collaboration and foster technology exchange between China and Africa.
The visiting delegation was warmly welcomed by Dr. Jemal Abafita, President of Jimma University, along with senior university officials and representatives from the Jimma Institute of Technology (JIT). This visit builds upon the foundational Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two universities in August 2025, which initially outlined cooperation in joint academic programs, faculty exchanges, and research initiatives.
During the visit higher officials and experts from both sides have deliberated on diversfifed areas of partnership including capacity development, joint programs and research endeavors, staff and student’s mobility, cultural and language development among others.
The five-year pact aims to create a framework for extensive collaboration focused on translating academic research into practical industrial applications, fostering economic cooperation, and enhancing talent development.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two institutions will engage in joint technology innovation, facilitate technology transfer services, and collaborate on talent training. A key component involves HBUT providing technological services and intellectual support to local Ethiopian enterprises, while Jimma University will act as a liaison, collecting industry demands and channeling them into specific research tasks.
The partnership also includes provisions for academic and cultural exchanges. HBUT will establish an overseas internship base at Jimma University for African students, creating a direct pipeline for skilled graduates to enter the workforce. Both parties have committed to organizing reciprocal visits for university and enterprise representatives to enhance mutual understanding and promote economic and educational cooperation.
In a joint statement, the universities emphasized that the initiative is built on principles of mutual benefit and is designed to leverage their respective strengths. “This collaboration is not just an agreement on paper; it is a bridge for knowledge and innovation that will yield tangible benefits for our students, faculty, and the wider industrial community,” the statement read.
This partnership is seen as a concrete step forward in the growing academic diplomacy between Ethiopia and China, aligning with broader bilateral efforts to strengthen economic and technological cooperation. The Demonstration Base is expected to serve as a model for future North-South academic partnerships focused on practical, impactful outcomes.
In the afternoon, the HBUT team visited the campuses of Jimma University. They expressed their gratitude to the JU leadership and staff for the warm hospitality extended to them during their visit.