The impact of North South University Collaboration:The Case of Mekelle University 13 February,2014 Leuven,Belguim Mitiku Haile
Dec 16, 2015
The impact of North South University Collaboration:The Case of Mekelle University
13 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.
Many innovations in 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 University
in the drylands of Tigray
North South University Collaboration … focus on Mekelle University
Anno 1995...the first auditorium of Mekelle University ...
Birds' eye view of Mekelle University anno 2005
First auditorium
First MU-Headquarters
• 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
OVERVIEW MU-FLEMISH COLLABORATION
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
Poverty: critical lack of any of the five types of capital
Human capitalhealth, nutrition, labour,
knowledge, ‘voice’
Natural capital
soil, water, vegetation,animals, minerals
Social capital
institutions, policy,cooperation, gover-nance, equity
Financial capitalcash, credit, reserves
Physical capitalinfrastructure, assets
MU-IUC Research Goal: Improved livelihood of the farmers in Tigray
Multidisciplinary assessment of land resources of TigrayMU-IUC Land team in action
Project 1 – Land management
How much sediment is going to the blue Nile from Tigray Region?
Geba River
Genfel
Suluh
Project 1 - Land Management
Project 2 – Geo-hydrology
Digging 40 thousand farm pondsper year
Understanding behavior of water is a must in drought-prone TigrayMU-IUC Geo-hydrology project
Project 3 - More Crop per Drop
Harvest of the first Jonagold apples in Tigary......ode on the delicious apples...by the village poet of Hagere Selam
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 4 - Aquatic ecology
I
Project 4 - Aquatic ecology
Coming to grips with the farmer’s views…MU-IUC Socio-economy project
Project 5 - Socio-economy
How to make local farm implements more efficient …?MU-IUC Farm management project
Project 6 - Farm Technology
Project 6 - Farm Technology
Farmer-centered
Holistic and
Academic output• Ethiopian PhD’s: 30 • Papers in SCI journals: 135• International congresses: 4
Mekelle International Congress Livelihood 2013
And now?
Mekelle university is willing to play a role in the
VLIR-UOS country strategy
Mekelle University has signed a MOU with
KU Leuven
VLIR-MU-IUC Partnership between Flanders and Ethiopia at MekelleAiming at keeping the food basket filled on a sustainable basis