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The impact of North South University Collaboration:The Case of Mekelle University 13 February,2014 Leuven,Belguim. Mitiku Haile. BACKGROUND
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The impact of North South University Collaboration:The Case of Mekelle University13 February,2014Leuven,Belguim Mitiku Haile
BACKGROUND • The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and 2012 stressed the need for “Encouraging twinning of universities in developed and developing countries” (Agenda 21,Chapter 36). • Exchange between Higher Education Institutes in developing and developed countries brings mutual benefit for both sides. • Manyinnovationsin higher education are indirect results of these cooperation activities.
THE CHALLENGE • With global interdependence it is critical that nations have the institutional capacity to interact globally to solve problems and create opportunities related to: development, security, peace and justice • Broad based development and transformation in the South requires a significant human and institutional capacity development
Specific challenges of African Higher Education Institutes • Financial constraints affecting faculty and infrastructure development • Isolation from global knowledge generation systems • Low levels of research and technology development • Inadequate training of leadership and management in advocacy, marketing, fundraising and governance • Uneven access along gender, ethnicity
The impact of North South University Collaboration:The Case of Mekelle Universityin the drylands of Tigray
North South University Collaboration … focus on Mekelle University
First MU-Headquarters First auditorium Birds' eye view of Mekelle University anno 2005
OVERVIEW MU-FLEMISH COLLABORATION • 1996 – 2001: VLIR OI: Soil conservation (UGent-K.U.Leuven) • 1998 – 2001: Desertification – Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (K.U.Leuven) • 2001 – 2006: VLIR-OI: Fighting desertification (K.U.Leuven) • 2000 – 2004: VLIR-OI: Forest rehabilitation (K.U.Leuven) • 2003 - now : VLIR- Institutional Collaboration All Flemish Universities Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) – Mekelle University, Ethiopia
VLIR OI Soil conservation • 1 st PhD Mintesinot Behailu: ‘Assessment and optimization of traditional Vertisol irrigation in northern Ethiopia: a case study at Gumselasa microdam’, became vice-president of Mekelle University
VLIR-OIForest rehabilitation through natural regeneration in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia • PhD Kindeya Gebrehiwot: ‘Ecology and Management of Boswellia papyrifera dry forests in Tigray, northern Ethiopia’- now President of Mekelle University
Matchmaking for the VLIR-MU-IUC Partner Programme Brussels, 2003
Enhancement and optimization of ICT usage Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) – Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Upgrading of library services Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) – Mekelle University, Ethiopia
MU-IUC Research Goal: Improved livelihood of the farmers in Tigray
Project 1 – Land management Multidisciplinary assessment of land resources of Tigray MU-IUC Land team in action
How much sediment is going to the blue Nile from Tigray Region?
Project 1 - Land Management Geba River Suluh Genfel
Project 2 – Geo-hydrology Digging 40 thousand farm ponds per year
Understanding behavior of water is a must in drought-prone Tigray MU-IUC Geo-hydrology project
Harvest of the first Jonagold apples in Tigary... ...ode on the delicious apples...by the village poet of Hagere Selam
Project 4 - Aquatic ecology Surprisingly much fish in the micro dams of Tigray! How can this resource contribute to poverty alleviation and food security? MU-IUC Aquatic ecology project
Project 5 - Socio-economy Coming to grips with the farmer’s views… MU-IUC Socio-economy project
Project 6 - Farm Technology How to make local farm implements more efficient …? MU-IUC Farm management project
Holistic and Farmer-centered
Academic output • Ethiopian PhD’s: 30 • Papers in SCI journals: 135 • International congresses: 4
And now? Mekelle University has signed a MOU with KU Leuven Mekelle university is willing to play a role in the VLIR-UOS country strategy
VLIR-MU-IUC Partnership between Flanders and Ethiopia at Mekelle Aiming at keeping the food basket filled on a sustainable basis