Haramaya University Expands International Collaboration with Varna University of Management in Bulgaria
Haramaya University is enhancing its internationalization efforts by expanding its collaboration with Varna University of Management (VUM) in Bulgaria. This partnership aims to foster educational exchange and professional development between the two institutions.
VUM is recognized as one of Bulgaria’s prestigious private universities, known for its autonomous status and commitment to global engagement.
A delegation from Haramaya University, led by Professor Mengistu Urge Letta, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Getachew Teshome Tilahun, Director of the Freshman Program Directorate, has been visiting VUM since September 29, 2025. This visit is part of staff mobility training under the Erasmus+ programme, an initiative of the European Union.
During their visit, the delegates engaged with VUM’s international office and university management, focusing on deepening collaboration, sharing best practices in higher education management, and advancing current joint mobility projects.
The delegation met with key figures at VUM, including the President, the Director of the International Cooperation Department, the CEO, and several senior professors. Discussions centered on various areas of cooperation under the Erasmus+ programme and its long-term sustainability.
A significant outcome of this visit is the planned mobility of nine staff members from Haramaya University, with three representatives from each of the Colleges of Business and Economics, Computing and Informatics, and Social Sciences and Humanities. These staff members are set to travel to Bulgaria for training in May 2026, as part of the ongoing Erasmus+ mobility project titled Developing Global Skills in Local Context.
Additionally, a new mobility grant has been secured for training in Leadership and Strategic Management in Higher Education, benefiting another nine higher and middle management staff members, along with selected senior academic staff. This training is scheduled for September 2026, bringing the total number of staff benefiting from this collaboration to eighteen.
The potential for student mobility was also explored, contingent upon meeting the requirements of the Erasmus+ programme. Discussions also included a tentative proposal for capacity building in internationalization efforts at several Ethiopian universities.
Overall, the delegation’s visit to Varna proved fruitful, allowing for the expansion of collaborations and enriching personal experiences through cultural exchange and professional engagement. The delegates believe that this partnership will significantly enhance Haramaya University’s journey toward autonomy, academic excellence, staff development, and global engagement.
Haramaya University Public & International Relations Directorate
Tags: academic partnership, Bulgaria, cross-border education, Ethiopia, global education, Haramaya University, higher education, International Collaboration, university cooperation, Varna University of Management