The impact of North South University
Collaboration:The Case of Mekelle University
13 February,2014
Leuven,Belguim
Mitiku Haile
BACKGROUND
 The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and 2012
stressed the need for “Encouraging twinning of
universities in developed and developing countries”
(Agenda 21,Chapter 36).
 Exchange between Higher Education Institutes in
developing and developed countries brings mutual
benefit for both sides.
 Many innovations in higher education are indirect results
of these cooperation activities.
THE CHALLENGE
•
•
With global interdependence it is critical that nations
have the institutional capacity to interact globally to
solve problems and create opportunities related to:
development, security, peace and justice
Broad based development and transformation in the
South requires a significant human and institutional
capacity development
Specific challenges of African Higher Education
Institutes
• Financial constraints affecting faculty and infrastructure
development
• Isolation from global knowledge generation systems
• Low levels of research and technology development
• Inadequate training of leadership and management in
advocacy, marketing, fundraising and governance
• Uneven access along gender, ethnicity
The impact of North South University
Collaboration:
The Case of Mekelle University
in the drylands of Tigray
North South University Collaboration … focus on Mekelle
University
Anno 1995...the first auditorium of Mekelle University ...
First MU-Headquarters
First auditorium
Birds' eye view of Mekelle University anno 2005
OVERVIEW MU-FLEMISH COLLABORATION
• 1996 – 2001: VLIR OI: Soil conservation
(UGent-K.U.Leuven)
• 1998 – 2001: Desertification – Fund for Scientific
Research Flanders (K.U.Leuven)
• 2001 – 2006: VLIR-OI: Fighting desertification
(K.U.Leuven)
• 2000 – 2004: VLIR-OI: Forest rehabilitation
(K.U.Leuven)
• 2003 - now : VLIR- Institutional Collaboration
All Flemish Universities
Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) – Mekelle University, Ethiopia
VLIR OI
Soil conservation
• 1 st PhD Mintesinot Behailu: ‘Assessment and
optimization of traditional Vertisol irrigation in northern
Ethiopia: a case study at Gumselasa microdam’, became
vice-president of Mekelle University
VLIR-OI
Forest rehabilitation through natural regeneration in
Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
• PhD Kindeya Gebrehiwot: ‘Ecology and Management of
Boswellia papyrifera dry forests in Tigray, northern
Ethiopia’- now President of Mekelle University
Matchmaking for the VLIR-MU-IUC Partner Programme
Brussels, 2003
Enhancement and optimization of ICT usage
Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) – Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Upgrading of library services
Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) – Mekelle University, Ethiopia
MU-IUC Research Goal: Improved livelihood of
Poverty: critical the
lack farmers
of any ofinthe
five types of capital
Tigray
Human capital
health, nutrition, labour,
knowledge, ‘voice’
Social capital
Natural capital
institutions, policy,
cooperation, governance, equity
soil, water, vegetation,
animals, minerals
Financial capital
Physical capital
cash, credit, reserves
infrastructure, assets
Project 1 – Land management
Multidisciplinary assessment of land resources of Tigray
MU-IUC Land team in action
How much sediment is going to the blue Nile from Tigray Region?
Project 1 - Land Management
Geba River
Suluh
Genfel
Project 2 – Geo-hydrology
Digging 40 thousand farm ponds
per year
Understanding behavior of water is a must in drought-prone Tigray
MU-IUC Geo-hydrology project
Project 3 - More Crop per Drop
Harvest of the first Jonagold apples in Tigary...
...ode on the delicious apples...by the village poet of Hagere Selam
Project 4 - Aquatic ecology
Surprisingly much fish in the micro dams of Tigray!
How can this resource contribute to poverty alleviation and food security?
MU-IUC Aquatic ecology project
Project 4 - Aquatic ecology
I
Project 5 - Socio-economy
Coming to grips with the farmer’s views…
MU-IUC Socio-economy project
Project 6 - Farm Technology
How to make local farm implements more efficient …?
MU-IUC Farm management project
Project 6 - Farm Technology
Academic output
• Ethiopian PhD’s: 30
• Papers in SCI journals: 135
• International congresses: 4
Mekelle International Congress Livelihood 2013
And now?
Mekelle university is willing
to play a role in the
VLIR-UOS country strategy
Mekelle University has
signed a MOU with
KU Leuven
VLIR-MU-IUC Partnership between Flanders and Ethiopia at Mekelle
Aiming at keeping the food basket filled on a sustainable basis