The two-day seminar on “Nurturing SDGs through Higher Education Capacity Building in Ethiopia” was successfully conducted at Jimma University under the NORHED II NURTURE Project. The event brought together academic leaders, researchers, and project partners to deliberate on responsible AI use, digital inclusion, and curriculum development aligned with the university’s aspiration to become a research-intensive autonomous institution.
The first day focused on the Conference on AI in Higher Education, featuring presentations on global AI trends, responsible AI practices from Norwegian universities, and implications for Ethiopian higher education policy. These sessions generated lively discussions emphasizing the need for ethical and contextualized AI integration. The Guest of Honor, Dr Jemal Abafita, Jimma University President, officially opened the seminar with a remark that underscored Jimma University’s vision to become a research-intensive and autonomous university. The opening address noted that the university’s aspiration depends heavily on developing innovative, interdisciplinary programs and on embracing emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence to enhance research productivity, teaching quality, and institutional decision-making.
A special session titled “Bridging the Digital Gender Gap through AI-Enabled Interventions” highlighted strategies for empowering women through equitable access to digital tools and AI-driven learning opportunities, reinforcing gender inclusion as a cross-cutting development goal in general and research engagement in particular.
The NURTURE Project Progress Report session showcased institutional achievements from partner universities including University of Gondar, Hawassa, Debre Markos, Addis Ababa Science and Technology, and Jimma University. Progress was noted in research collaborations, capacity building, and curriculum innovations supporting the SDGs.
The second day was devoted to the Curriculum Review Workshop for the MSc in Health Informatics program. Experts reviewed the draft curriculum, discussed revisions to enhance its research and digital health components, and validated it as a timely and innovative program critical to advancing national health data systems. The workshop concluded with a reaffirmation of shared commitment to quality, innovation, and collaboration across Ethiopian universities.