Haramaya University Forges Key Partnerships in South Korea for Joint Research and Enterprise Development
During an official visit to South Korea recently, Haramaya University made great strides in fostering international collaborations. A delegation from the university, led by President Dr. Jemal Yousuf, visited between November 14 and 20, 2025, to promote joint research, postgraduate education, and enterprise development.
Key participants for this mission included Dr. Ketema Bekele, Dr. Nano Alemu, and Dr. Jemal Yousuf. The mission entailed technical briefings, laboratory tours, and strategic consultations. The core activities were set toward establishing sustainable partnerships with leading Korean universities and environmentally focused agricultural companies.
The visit was organized by Agrokorea Co., Ltd. with support from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands, represented by Mr. Taye Mulugeta. It opened with a stakeholder session that reaffirmed the longstanding relationship between Ethiopia and Korea.
At Seoul National University, SNU, Dr. Jemal Yousuf, President of Haramaya University, indicated that the university has played a critical role in transforming the agricultural sector in Ethiopia with substantial support for national development.
Dr. Jemal presented the strategic objectives of the university and its institutional capabilities. In response, Dr. Sang Mo Lee highlighted SNU’s strengths in analysis and the advanced facilities available at the National Instrumentation Center for Environmental Management (NICEM). The delegation toured NICEM and participated in thorough discussions about potential collaborative research, academic exchanges, and implementation of innovative agricultural and environmental technologies. SNU’s leadership showed enthusiasm about future partnerships with Haramaya University.
In addition, a visit by the delegation to the Ulsan Fertilizer Plant further strengthened the partnership with Agrokorea, initiated earlier in June 2025. The collaboration focuses on innovating and adapting advanced fertilizer technologies for a variety of Ethiopian agro-ecological settings.
Dr. Jemal emphasized that this mission is set to significantly enhance the academic and industry connections of Haramaya University on an international level. It aims to strengthen the university’s research capabilities in sustainable agriculture and accelerate the adoption of new technologies. This initiative will lay a solid foundation for partnerships that are expected to improve agricultural productivity and promote environmental conservation throughout the country.
A key achievement from the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with partner institutions. This agreement will enable Haramaya University to explore new agribusiness initiatives, engage in collaborative research projects, and develop postgraduate programs in partnership with esteemed South Korean institutions such as Seoul National University and Konkuk University.
Haramaya University Public & International Relations Directorate
Tags: academic cooperation, enterprise development, Ethiopia, global innovation, Haramaya University, higher education, International Collaboration, joint research, research partnerships, South Korea partnerships