VLIR-UOS Network Ethiopia phase II project (2022-2027) workshop has been held at Bishoftu town so as to discuss the completion of the first phase and the implementation of the second phase of the new project. It is organized and coordinated by Jimma (Mr. Kora Tushne) and Ghent (Prof. Burno Levecke) Universities.
Opening speech has been made by the representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Belgian Embassy. Dr. Eba Mijena General Director of Higher Institutions at the Ministry of Education said, there is no compromise for the quality of education and it has to come at the top.
The goal of the project is to implement improved research practices through interuniversity and interdisciplinary networking research collaborations.
Moreover, it is aimed to transform both postgraduate education and research quality, since they are the driver of sustainable and equitable development of the country.
It is planned (2022-2027) to deliver a shared postgraduate (Ph.D.) program and strengthen the skill of staff to lead research groups and supervise Ph.D. students effectively. Hence, the project vows to enhance ICT infrastructure and strengthening the capacity of libraries to realize its goal.
The need for change in the second phase is the poor advisor-ship of Ph.D. students, weak funding, and absence of timely completion of local university students to meet the need of Ethiopian Universities.
On the workshop several papers were presented by distinguished professors in relation to postgraduate education and research practices including ICT development and the realization of gender equality in the coming project.
The phase II Interuniversity collaboration for Quality Graduate Education and Research (IQ-GEAR) project, which has been led by Jimma and Ghent University with the networking of Ambo, Hawasa and Addis Ababa (CVM) Universities, intended to offer high-quality and inclusive Ph.D. education and to perform outstanding research.
It is obvious that the first phase of the project has focused on “University Collaboration for Better Health”, which was implemented over the last five years.
University presidents and vice presidents, Officials from the Ministry of education and the Belgian Embassy, Invited Scholars, and ICT professionals are taking part in the workshop.
