The impact of North South University Collaboration:The Case of Mekelle University

13 February,2014Leuven,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 ...

Birds' eye view of Mekelle University anno 2005

First auditorium

First MU-Headquarters

• 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

OVERVIEW MU-FLEMISH COLLABORATION

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-OIForest 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

Poverty: critical lack of any of the five types of capital

Human capitalhealth, nutrition, labour,

knowledge, ‘voice’

Natural capital

soil, water, vegetation,animals, minerals

Social capital

institutions, policy,cooperation, gover-nance, equity

Financial capitalcash, credit, reserves

Physical capitalinfrastructure, assets

MU-IUC Research Goal: Improved livelihood of the farmers in Tigray

Multidisciplinary assessment of land resources of TigrayMU-IUC Land team in action

Project 1 – Land management

How much sediment is going to the blue Nile from Tigray Region?

Geba River

Genfel

Suluh

Project 1 - Land Management

Project 2 – Geo-hydrology

Digging 40 thousand farm pondsper year

Understanding behavior of water is a must in drought-prone TigrayMU-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

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 4 - Aquatic ecology

Coming to grips with the farmer’s views…MU-IUC Socio-economy project

Project 5 - Socio-economy

How to make local farm implements more efficient …?MU-IUC Farm management project

Project 6 - Farm Technology

Project 6 - Farm Technology

Farmer-centered

Holistic and

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 MekelleAiming at keeping the food basket filled on a sustainable basis