Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme Coordinators’ Meeting held in Brussels, Belgium
Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme 2023 Projects Coordinators’ Meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium from 20 to 23 March 2024. The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) organized the meeting, in cooperation with Directorate-general for International Partnerships.
The kick-off meeting was conducted for 15 projects selected under NDICI-2023-MOBAF and funded by the European Union. Haramaya University (HU) won two projects: as a Lead applicant (Collaborative Graduate Training in Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation in Central and East Africa (COCREATE-Africa)) and as a Partner (Partnership to Strengthen Graduate Training and Research Capacity for developing climate smart agri-food systems in Central and East Africa (CSAS)) to be implemented under the Africa Center of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation (ACE Climate SABC). These projects were developed by a team of researchers comprising Dr. Bobe Bedadi, Dr. Mulugeta Damie, Dr. Getachew Shambel, Dr. Muluken Gezahegn, Dr. Chanyalew Seyoum, and Mr. Solomon Estifanos. In addition, Dr. Jemal Yousuf and Prof. Mengistu Urge provided technical backstopping, guidance and logistics support for the team.
The HU-led COCREATE-Africa will provide scholarships to support the mobility of 30 MSc and 10 PhD students as well as 8 staff and 6 trainees across six Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Africa from 2024 to 2027.
The project consortium members are Haramaya University (Ethiopia), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Eldoret (Kenya), University of Lubumbashi (DR Congo), Uganda Martyrs University (Uganda), and Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (Tanzania)). The project also has a technical partner from EU (Polytechnic Institute of Porto – Portugal) and associate partners (Amoud University, Somalia; University of Juba, South Sudan; Oda Bultum University, Ethiopia; and Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute). Similarly, the University of Dschang (Cameroon) led CSAS project will sponsor the mobility of 26 MSc and 8 PhD students, as well as 4 staff and 4 trainees across six HEIs in the period 2024-2027 (i.e., University of Dschang-Cameroon, Makerere University-Uganda, University of Kinshasa-DR Congo, Bishop Stuart University-Uganda, Haramaya University-Ethiopia, and Egerton University-Kenya). The CSAS has a technical partner from EU (The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)) in Sweden) and associate partners (RUFORUM and Forum for African Women Vice Chancellors).
The inception meeting in Brussels was organized with the aim to inform the implementers on the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility project cycle management from an operational and financial point of view. Parallel workshops were also held on the main project activities: Mobility Management – Promotion & Selection, Recognition of Studies, Impact, and Project Management, Capacity Building and Dissemination.
The last day of the event also provided a venue for consortium members to discuss project activities at consortium level with the participation of EACEA project officers. Haramaya University was represented by Dr. Bobe Bedadi (Coordinator, COCREATE-Africa and Member, CSAS), Dr. Mulugeta Damie (Project Manager, COCREATE-Africa and Member, CSAS), and Dr. Muluken Gezahegn (Focal Person for HU, CSAS Project and Member, COCREATE-Africa).
The Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme is the EU’s programme to encourage international learning mobility across the African continent. The programme provides support for consortia of African Higher Education Institutions and scholarship opportunities for African trainees, students and staff. The Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme is part of the Youth Mobility for Africa flagship initiative which aims to support learning opportunities and exchanges and ultimately to promote Africa as an attractive study destination.
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) manage the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme on behalf of the Directorate-General for International Partnerships.
Haramaya University Public & International Relations Directorate