Haramaya University Participates in Triennial RUFORUM Conference and African Higher Education Week at Cotonou, Benin
A delegation of Haramaya University, led by Dr. Jemal Yousuf- President of HU, participated in the 7th African Higher Education Week and RUFORUM Triennial Conference held from 06 -10 December 2021 at Palais des Congres de Cotonou, Benin, and the delegation took part in trainings, engaged in various parallel sessions and deliberated on current pressing issues with other African fellow academics, scientists, researchers and decision makers.
This year’s conference was organized under the theme of ‘Operationalizing Higher Education for Innovation, Industrialization, Inclusion and Sustainable Economic Development in Africa’.
The conference was conducted with the aims of catalyzing investment in Higher Education to strengthening Africa’s Science, Technology and Innovation Capacity; promoting international linkages and partnerships for strengthening higher education in Africa; promoting youth employment and skills acquisition for development; and strengthening university-private sector business linkages.
HU has a strong collaboration with RUFORUM in various regional programs and capacity building interventions, and it participated in the conference in different capacities. One of the major events of the conference was HU’s hosting of an open exhibition there. The exhibition served as a promotional platform to introduce HU, including its major academic programs, research and community service activities, to an international audience.
During the event, HU’s regional program, Africa Center of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation was introduced.
In addition, the Agricultural and Rural Innovation Incubation Hub (ARIHUB) an on-going capacity building project supported by RUFORUM through the MASTERCARD foundation to promote graduate business startups, and the “Youth Empowerment through Livelihood Transformation” project, a new research project supported by Purdue University’s LASER (Long-term Assistance and Services for Research) PULSE (Partners for University-Led Solutions Engine) program were presented.
HU also met with key partners during the event. In the spirit of strengthening the working relationships between HU and its partners, HU awarded certificate of appreciation to them for their undeterred support.

By:- Kidesena Sebsebie