The Kotebe University of Education F.A.I.T.H project internship crew, under the leadership of TANDEM Internship, received an enthusiastic welcome from the Salash School community in Addis Ababa. December 25/ 2024.
During their visit, experts conducted thorough school observations and evaluated the collaborative efforts of interns, school mentors, and campus advisors. This initiation aims to rollout the toolboxes of F.A.I.T.H project and provide valuable hands-on experience for aspiring educators. The highlight of the visit was the students’ excitement as they donned their “Gowon” attire, a symbol of their journey towards becoming esteemed members of the teaching profession. This attire not only signifies their commitment to education but also their candidacy for the prestigious Teaching Carrier. The positive reception and the collaborative spirit observed at Salash School underscore the importance of such internships in fostering a supportive and innovative educational environment.
Wolaita Sodo University (WSU) hosted a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Awareness Campaign under the Tandem F initiative. The workshop, titled “Integrating the SDGs into Teaching, Research, and University Governance Systems,” sought to build foundational knowledge of the SDGs and explore strategies for embedding them into the university’s core functions. The campaign aimed to achieve to establish a foundational understanding of SDGs, sharing global best practices, exploring effective integration strategies, and developing actionable plans to embed SDGs into WSU’s operations. The workshop focused on four key topics:
Conceptualizing SDGs and Global Trends in University Contexts: An overview of the SDGs and their relevance to higher education.
Global Universities’ Trends in SDG Implementation: Best practices from leading universities globally.
Integrating SDGs into Key University Operations: Practical approaches to embedding SDGs into teaching, research, Community Service and Technology Transfer (CSTT), and governance.
Strategies for SDG Integration in Universities: Developing actionable plans to align university operations with the SDGs. The event commenced with a welcome speech by Ms. Adanech Teshome, F.A.I.T.H. Project Work Package Six (WP6) Coordinator presented an overview of the project’s goals and its significance for Ethiopian Universities of Applied Sciences. In addition, Dr. Guchie Gulie, the President of WSU, delivered the opening remarks and emphasized the importance of aligning WSU’s core operations with the SDGs to support its transition into a full-fledged Applied Sciences University. Dr. Guchie highlighted the workshop’s role in improving curricula, enhancing research quality, and refining governance systems to boost the university’s contributions to regional and national development. Dr. Demissie Dalelo, a Tandem F-SDGs expert, presented an overview of the project’s 18-month journey. He detailed achievements, including the development of toolboxes, validation workshops, pilot testing, and lessons learned. Dr. Demissie highlighted the workshop as a pivotal step in rolling out the initiative. The workshop featured interactive presentations, activity-based sessions, and group discussions, offering participants an opportunity to engage with the topics and develop strategies for SDG integration. Key university stakeholders participated, including top management, directors, deans, associate deans, senior staff, and experts from the F.A.I.T.H. project. The closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Zewudineh Tomas, Vice President for Research and Community Engagement. He stressed the need for WSU to align its teaching, research, and governance systems with the principles of Applied Sciences Universities. Dr. Zewudineh expressed gratitude to the project donors (European Union), Ministry of Education (MoE), and the organizers for their efforts in supporting this transformative initiative.
The Jigjiga University Internship Tandem Team (Tandem A) held a students’ and mentors’ internship awareness-based workshop on December 19/2024.
The workshop was officially opened by the Jigjiga University APDPD Ahmed Arab (Assi.Professor). During his opening speech, he announced that F.A.I.T.H project has been working to make sure the transformation process of the EUASs. He additionally stated that each tandem character rollout helps the implementation of the toolbox designs through out the 15 Applied Science Universities. He notified the internees and their respective mentors to bring authentic internship output as an input data for the next Ethiopian Ministry of Education’s work package to be disseminated in the rest Ethiopian Universities of Applied Sciences. Zufan Gebrehiwet(Assi.professor), LEAR of WP8 of JJU_F.A.I.T.H presented the overview of the project for the attendees of the workshop; various crucial discussion points have been raised by students and the mentors on how generally is F.A.I.T.H project contributing to EUASs currently. On top of that, the participants made discussions how the internship rollout smoothly moves forward from the perspectives of students’ class assignments, mentors’ University instruction burdens, and Hosting company’s flexibility to entertain productive internship rollout. The tandem experts have been going through explaining the benefits of this internship that the participants confirmed the clarity on. The Tandem A members Binyam Hailu and Dawit Gezahegn introduced the piloted toolboxes, provided internship rollout activities’ instructions, and the entire action plan of the internship rollout to the participants while making their awareness creation presentation. At last, the LEAR of the WP8 officially closed the workshop giving thanks and promoting the F.A.I.T.H project Social media links and website to the participants.
Jigjiga University Tandem C (Applied Research) organized awareness creation and consultation workshop focusing on demand driven research and Technology/Knowledge transfer on Dec 5/2024. The workshop’s specific theme was revising the university’s Research, Publication, and Technology Transfer Policies and Guidelines. The event was attended by university leadership, college-level research and technology transfer coordinators, Jigjiga University-F.A.I.T.H project core team, as well as experts from various sessions of the University. The program commenced with an opening remark by Dr. Shermake Jama, Director of the Research and Technology Transfer Directorate. He emphasized the importance of such workshops for the university community to raise awareness and gather inputs that would inform the revision of the university’s policies and guidelines. Dr. Shermake also expressed his gratitude to the F.A.I.T.H project for spearheading the initiative, aligning with the office’s plans for policy revision. He highlighted the office’s strong support for the implementation of the Tandem Pilot Project. Mrs. Zufan Gebrehiwot, Lear of the F.A.I.T.H Project Work Package 8 (WP8), presented an overview of the project focusing on the main objectives and achievements of the project to date. Mr. Abdi Abdilahi, the coordinator of the Tandem C, presented on the activities, tasks performed, lessons learned, and next steps of the pilot project and the JJU research Gudiline and Policy review results. The workshop also featured group discussions during which participants shared their insights. These discussions were moderated by Kownin Abdimahad, a member of the Tandem C team. Participants provided valuable input on revising the university’s research and technology transfer policies and guidelines to ensure it will be beneficial and relevant to the community. The event concluded with closing remarks from Mr. Maslah Issa, Director of the President’s Office. He underscored the importance of the Tandem Pilot Projects being rolled out at Jigjiga University, noting that they serve as a model for the 15 applied science universities across the country. Mr. Maslah reaffirmed Jigjiga University’s full commitment to the successful implementation of the Tandem Projects and their objectives. On behalf of the university’s leadership, he thanked the organizers of the workshop, especially the Tandem C team, the Jigjiga University-F.A.I.T.H project core team, the European Union (EU) and other partner stakeholders for their support for the project effectiveness.
Tandem Internship Training Session was successfully Conducted at Kotebe University of Education
Dec 3, 2024, Kotebe, Addis Ababa Kotebe University of Education hosted a comprehensive training session for school mentors, university internship advisors, and participating intern students as part of the rollout activities under Project F.A.I.T.H, Work Package 4. This initiation marks a significant step in the project’s commitment to enhance the quality of internship programs through collaborative engagement in Ethiopian Universities of Applied Science. During the session, the Project Coordinator, Dr. Eprem T., and his team delivered a key message outlining the rationale behind Project F.A.I.T.H, the progress achieved to date and the expectations from stakeholders to ensure the successful rollout of internship toolboxes. His speech emphasized the importance of collaboration and active participation in achieving project goals. Tandem experts Dr. Bekele W. and Mrs. Mignot shared insights into the structure and purpose of the internship toolbox, highlighting valuable lessons learned during the mini-pilot implementation phase. Their presentation shed light on practical approaches and strategies to optimize the internship experience for all participants. Additionally, Mr. Hawarya, the Practicum Coordinator at Kotebe University of Education, provided a detailed overview of internship procedures, ethical principles, and the critical need for cooperation and coordination among all stakeholders involved in the program. The event was concluded with a vibrant discussion and idea exchange, where partners reaffirmed their commitment to play their respective roles in ensuring the success of the internship rollout. This collaborative effort reflects a shared dedication to enhance the educational and professional outcomes of internship programs under Project F.A.I.T.H
Project F.A.I.T.H successfully Disseminates Lessons Learned from Tandem Projects November 20, 2024, Samara, Afar
Project F.A.I.T.H has reached a significant milestone by successfully sharing valuable insights from its tandem projects during an event held at Samara University on November 20, 2024, in Samara, Afar. This gathering served as a partners meeting for the EU-funded EtD-FaM maker space project, bringing together key stakeholders from various institutions.
The event featured a strong representation from Project F.A.I.T.H with core team members from Kotebe University of Education and Jigjiga University actively participating. Dr. Eprem Tekle, the F.A.I.T.H Project coordinator from Kotebe University of Education, delivered a presentation titled “Establishing Universities of Applied Sciences in Ethiopia: Lessons from F.A.I.T.H Project Tandem Projects.”
In his presentation, Dr. Eprem outlined the project’s evolution, highlighting its journey from inception to its current state. He explained the process of documenting best practices and contextualizing them within the Ethiopian landscape through collaboration with European experts. He elaborated on the design and implementation of tandem projects, which played a crucial role in testing the feasibility of various toolboxes developed throughout the initiative. He shared specific lessons learned from each tandem project, demonstrating how Ethiopian universities of applied sciences can effectively collaborate with industry stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.
The event also provided a platform for stakeholders from Italy, Djibouti, and Germany to engage in discussions about future collaborations. This international dialogue not only set the stage for ongoing partnerships but also offered Project FAITH an opportunity to expand its reach and impact on a global scale. As Project FAITH continues to pave the way for the advancement of universities of applied sciences in Ethiopia, the insights gained from this event will undoubtedly contribute to the establishment of robust applied sciences programs that meet the needs of both students and the industry.
It is an honor and a privilege to share our work and future plans of our EU funded projects #FAITH and #MaDE to the consortium of #UAS at Dire Dawa University. The meeting was graced by the presence of the presidents of #UASs who unanimously approved the by-law of UAS. We also heard reports of #Koteb University of Education, #Dire Daw University, #Semera University and #Arisi University on their journey to realize the differentiation strategy. It is encouraging to see the efforts of many of the universities to assume a real of UAS. We also got the opportunity to visit the Industry Park and the dry land port at Dire Dawa. The ambition of the industries to work with the universities is very clear. Creating meaningful partnership and collaboration between the industries and the universities is non-negotiable. The effort of FAITH project in redefining internships, partnership and networking with industry/SMEs, demand driven applied research and technology/knowledge transfer, creating career paths for professors at UASs, Incorporating part-time lecturers from practice in the teaching and learning process and up skilling existing academic staff and engaging for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in teaching, research and management of the campus will play significant roles in transitioning the Ethiopian UAS. This will be further enhanced by the other project, MaDe, which focuses on the capacity development of the staff at UASs on the appropriate methodology that should be adopted by the UAS. However, as it was emphasized in the meeting, these different efforts should be collaborated to bring the desired result in a short time. I the coordinator of FAITH project have hope that the consortium established in the current meeting will play key roles in coordinating the efforts. I would like to congratulate Dire Daw University, Wallaga University and Debre Birhan University to have been elected to organize the consortium. #Fekede Tuli, #Almaz Wasse Gelagay #Zufan Gebrehiwet #Fekadu Yehuwalashet #Berhanemeskel Tena FAITH Project Ethiopia.
Jigjiga University’s F.A.I.T.H Project Tandem Experts held a productive meeting at the President’s office to discuss the rollout plan and implementation strategy for the Tandem Pilot Projects. Participants actively engaged in discussions, raising important issues related to both the plan and the project as a whole. The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of motivation and a shared commitment to successfully implement the pilot projects according to the established timeline. European Union in Ethiopia Ministry of Education Ethiopia Kotebe University of Education Jigjiga University Wolita sodo university For detail please visit us: Website: http://faith.ethernet.edu.et/ Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553179277043 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-project-64b509295/ Twitter: https://x.com/FAITHProjectETH
On October 18, 2024, the FAITH Project team held a virtual meeting for a performance review and status update with partnering universities in Ethiopia (Kotebe University of Education, Jigjiga University, and Wolita sodo university, along with representatives from the Ministry of Education Ethiopia. Leaders of the work packages presented updated reports on the Tandem Rollout plan, provided an overview of tasks completed and challenges faced within their respective tasks. The participants engaged in a discussion about the challenges encountered and brainstormed potential solutions. The meeting concluded with Project Manager Dr. Ephrem Tekle Yacob providing a comprehensive overview of the next steps and actions required to ensure the project’s continued success. European Union in Ethiopia Ministry of Education Ethiopia Kotebe University of Education Jigjiga University Wolita sodo university
The F.A.I.T.H project coordinator has submitted 18 months’ midterm project report to the European Commission ERASMUS-LS grant management on September 01/2024. The report is of delivered activities, tasks and sub tasks of all work packages planed to be delivered at that time frame.
