Haramaya University Participates in High-Level Strategic Meetings at the African Union Commission
Haramaya University, represented by its President, Dr. Jemal Yousuf Hassan, joined a high-level delegation from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), led by Prof. Patrick Okori, Executive Secretary, and Prof. Anthony Egeru, Programme Director, in a series of strategic meetings at the African Union Commission (AUC).
The engagements were aimed at strengthening continental partnerships in postgraduate education, research, innovation, and higher education transformation.
The delegation engaged in discussions with H.E. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, the African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI), regarding ways to enhance collaboration between the African Union Commission and RUFORUM. They proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening institutional partnerships and advancing Africa’s agenda for postgraduate education, research, innovation, and human capital development. Commissioner Prof. Gaspard welcomed this initiative and encouraged closer collaboration to support the continent’s priorities in higher education and scientific development.
After engaging with the African Union Commission, a delegation from Haramaya University, led by Dr. Jemal Yousuf Hassan and accompanied by Dr. Getachew Shambel Endris, the TAGDev 2.0 Project Coordinator, conducted a strategic planning session with the leadership of RUFORUM focusing on the future direction of the Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) Programme. Key topics included enhancing postgraduate training through curriculum improvements, incorporating leadership, entrepreneurship, and professional development into doctoral education, strengthening quality assurance mechanisms, fostering strategic partnerships, and creating a roadmap for the programme’s long-term sustainability.
According to Dr. Jemal Yousuf, the President of Haramaya University, the outcome of the discussion included a proposal to establish a network of regional PhD hubs across Africa as part of RUFORUM’s Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) Programme. Haramaya University has been nominated to serve as one of these regional hubs for postgraduate training and research, focusing on its center of excellence in climate-smart agriculture with an emphasis on agriculture and resilience.
The proposed hub aims to strengthen doctoral education, promote research excellence, foster innovation, and develop human capital in support of Africa’s transformation agenda, Dr. Jemal added.
Haramaya University Public & International Relations Office
Tags: academic partnership, African Union, African Union Commission, Agricultural Research, Capacity Building, Dr. Jemal Yousuf Hassan, Ethiopia, Haramaya University, higher education, International Collaboration, Leadership, RUFORUM, strategic meeting
