Dutch Free University Supports Capacity Building of Ethiopian Universities

The State Minister for Higher Education, Dr.Adhane Haile, attended the final workshop on Human Capacity Building Needs of the New Public Universities, held on September 25 in the premises of the Ghion Hotel.

Representatives of the twelve NPUs discussed an analysis on their human capacity building needs, presented by a team of the Centre for International Cooperation (Free University, Amsterdam).

The Centre for International Cooperation concentrated its analysis on four specific areas: leadership and management, academic processes, administrative processes  and cross cutting issues.

The analysis shows that Public Universities in Ethiopia develop ways to cope with challenges they met, e.g. by focussing on institutional and team learning. In addition to leadership and management projects the NPUs consider teaching and learning as a top priority. Desirability of support to develop research and community services is also emphasized. Upon incorporating the workshop’s recommendations and conclusions, possible interventions and scenarios will be identified and elaborated.

The Development Assistance Group (DAG) supported the study under its education pooled fund, while UNDP administered the process.

By implementing this research project, Ethiopia continues to be a core focal country for

CIC’s input.  Since 2003, the institute enhanced the development of Ethiopia’s higher education system through various projects. Most recently HERQA ( Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency in Ethiopia) is advised through support and training.

All these activities are implemented and financed under the umbrella of the Netherlands Programme for Institutional Strengthening of Post-secondary Education and Training Capacity (NPT).

Within NPT’s framework, in the period 2004-2010 in total twelve projects will be implemented for a total amount of EUR 11.890.000,=.

for more information, please contact Mr. Franta Wijchers at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Addis Ababa at  franta.wijchers@minbuza.nl or 091 125 2746