Ethiopian, Belgian universities encouraged to cooperate in fostering quality higher education

Addis Ababa, October 4, 2023 (FBC) – The Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels attended the opening event of the evaluative meeting between four Ethiopian universities (Jimma, Hawassa, Ambo, and Addis Ababa (College of Veterinary Medicine)) and the University of Ghent on Inter-university Collaboration for Quality Graduate Education and Research in Ethiopia (IQ-GEAR) supported by VLIR-UOS, the Flemish Inter-university Umbrella for Development Cooperation.

During the opening session, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the Benelux countries, Hirut Zemene, Professor Mieke Van Herreweghe – Vice-Rector of the University of Ghent, Mrs. Kristien Verbrugghen – the Director of VLIR-UOS, as well as Dr. Eba Mijena – CEO for Academic Affairs of the Ministry of Education of Ethiopia put forward the importance of the joint project.

In her remark, Ambassador Hirut Zemene expressed gratitude for the longstanding partnership maintained between Belgium with Ethiopia.

The Ambassador also noted the efforts and achievements of the Government of Ethiopia in the education sector and the priority given to the sector in ensuring quality of education in the 10-Year Development Plan.

She also took the opportunity to give updates on the current situation in Ethiopia. Professor Mieke Van Herreweghe and Mrs. Verbrugghen expressed satisfaction with the way the educational partnership is being strengthened between the two sides.

Professor Bruno Levecke, the project coordinator from the University of Ghent also stressed the importance of cooperation by quoting the famous Ethiopian proverb “When spiderwebs unite they can tie up a lion”.

IQ-GEAR which started in 2017 is now in its second phase and has a vision to transform both postgraduate education and research quality in the domains of infectious diseases and nutrition, and to become the driver of sustainable and equitable development in Ethiopia.