FAO and Haramaya University Host Successful Joint Hybrid Seminar on eLearning and Strategic Collaboration
Haramaya University, Ethiopia – 17 July 2025
Haramaya University, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, successfully held a joint hybrid seminar under the theme: “Strengthening University Capacity through FAO eLearning Academy Courses.”
The event, which was livestreamed globally, brought together university stakeholders from across Ethiopia, representatives from the FAO headquarters in Rome, and key delegates from the Ministry of Agriculture. Participants joined both physically at Haramaya University and virtually via Zoom, fostering inclusive and wide-reaching engagement.
The seminar was officially opened by the President of Haramaya University, who welcomed the initiative as a timely intervention to boost institutional capacity and advance digital learning across the higher education sector.
The FAO Ethiopia Representative delivered an opening address, emphasizing the transformative potential of the FAO eLearning Academy, which offers free, multilingual, and certified courses designed to support sustainable development and knowledge sharing.
A highlight of the seminar was the live demonstration of the TAP-AIS eLearning module, followed by a presentation from the FAO Academy team, who showcased how their resources could support academic institutions in enhancing curriculum delivery, research, and outreach.
Haramaya University shared its growing experience with digital learning tools and platforms. Notably, the University’s ICT Directorate presented the ongoing efforts and achievements in ICT infrastructure, digital learning environments, and capacity building as part of a broader digital transformation agenda.
The seminar also featured an engaging panel discussion with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, who expressed a strong interest in aligning efforts to reach farmers and agro-pastoralist communities. Key areas discussed included:
Harmonizing FAO eLearning resources with Haramaya University courses
Joint development of targeted learning programs for rural and underserved communities
Enhancing institutional collaboration to support national development priorities and the SDGs
The session concluded with a dynamic Q&A and strategic planning discussion, laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration between FAO, universities, and government bodies.