Leicester renews landmark Ethiopia partnership after three decades of collaboration
Dr Asrat Atsedeweyn (L) with Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah (R) (Credit: University of Leicester)
Delegates from the University of Gondar in Ethiopia visited the University of Leicester last week to renew a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions building on over three decades of collaboration between the two institutions.
President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah met with President of the University of Gondar, Dr Asrat Atsedeweyn on Thursday, 14 May to reaffirm their partnership.
The signing builds on a University of Leicester-led project funded by the British Academy that will strengthen research governance and research management capacity in East Africa and the East Midlands.
Led by Professor Richard Thomas, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Leicester, the project is bringing together colleagues from Leicester and Gondar to share best practice, find new ways of working and help to train future research managers.
As well as signing the Memorandum of Understanding, members of the delegation, co-designed a new training programme for research managers, with equity at its core, with colleagues from the University of Leicester. As the University of Gondar embarks on a journey to autonomy, we also share experiences about designing polices around research strategy and management, and equity, diversity and inclusion.
As project co-investigator Dr Diane Levine said: “This British Academy funding has facilitated an authentic and equitable context in which to learn together”.
The collaboration between the University of Leicester and the University of Gondar started in the mid-1990s when the two institutions established a link to promote healthcare delivery and education in Gondar, launching the charity Health Action Leicester for Ethiopia (HALE).
The partnership has since grown into a broad institutional relationship spanning life sciences, higher education, research and community impact. Collaborative projects have included work to strengthen management skills in African higher education, the Leicester-Gondar Orthopaedic Partnership, a study on tuberculosis, and research into Ethiopian crop diversity.
The University of Leicester has also offered PhD training opportunities for University of Gondar academics in our recent past. Dr Tegegne Gesese, Vice-President of Academic Affairs at the University of Gondar was part of the delegation and completed his PhD at the University Leicester.
Discussing the visit from the University of Gondar, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah said: “Both the University of Leicester and the University of Gondar share a deep commitment to advancing inclusion and breaking down inequality in education and research.
“Over nearly three decades of collaboration, our partnership has supported impactful research, education and capacity-building work with benefits for communities in Ethiopia, the UK and beyond.
“It is with great pleasure and pride that the University of Leicester and the University of Gondar renew our partnership with this Memorandum of Understanding.”
President of the University of Gondar, Dr Asrat Atsedeweyn said: “The University of Leicester has been a steadfast supporter of the University of Gondar since the 1990s, playing an instrumental role in building our academic capacity and mentoring our leadership. Our recent visit and the renewal of our Memorandum of Understanding reaffirm our mutual commitment to research excellence, ensuring that our rich history of faculty exchange and collaborative research continues to flourish as we work together to tackle global challenges."
The University of Leicester also hopes to expand its research collaborations across the Amhara region of Ethiopia, and were delighted to welcome President of the University of Debark, Dr Asmamaw Workneh as part of their delegation.
Dr Asmamaw Workneh said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the University of Leicester for the kind invitation and warm hospitality extended to us during this visit. The visit marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between Debark University, a young and growing institution committed to advancing teaching, research, and community engagement. We look forward to building on this foundation to strengthen academic exchange, joint research, and institutional capacity development."