AMU’s University Industry Linkage and Technology Transfer Directorate (UIL-TTD) that has firmed up around 10 collaborations with different stakeholders last year, got three major ties i.e. Leather Industry Development Institute (LIDI), Wonji Sugar Factory and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region Information Communication Technology Agency operationalized with conspicuous initial progress on the ground, said Director, Dr Tolera Seda

Delving further Dr Tolera said AMU-LIDI partnership has got activated with 10 Master students and 8 teachers undergoing short-term training in July 2018, at LIDI’s base in Addis Ababa. The trainees were exposed to entire advanced processes and oriented in manufacturing of exportable foot-wears.

On Externship front, 8 teachers for two months had been to different leather industries, who could imbibe the technical nitty-gritty of leather product manufacturing and pinpointed lacunas involved. On research, which is the third crucial component of partnership, he said, AMU will shortly develop project proposals on identified gaps that will broadly address the concerning issues in principle.

Apart from this, AMU is committed to teach LIDI’s employees and professionals and in turn they can also share expertise with us; if they require scholarship to pursue, Master programs will be considered.

On other hand, AMU’s six students are undergoing training-cum-attachment at Wonji Sugar Factory. They will acquire in-depth knowledge of technical knowhow involved in the sugar production and also focus as how to increase sugar yield from sugarcane, sweet sorghum, etc. and identify areas that entail research.

Furthermore, he adds AMU has submitted a 2-year research proposal Wonji Sugar Factory on soil characterization and climate change variability impacting sugar production that will incur ETB 2.6 Million in which 11 researchers from different disciplines will partake this collaborative task. The partnership will continue for five years that started last year and its main focus will be training, research, teaching-learning, staff exchange, knowledge and technology transfer etc..

The third partnership with Hawassa-based South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region Information Communication Technology Agency has set the ball rolling with establishing an ICT Incubation Centre at Main Campus and imparting trainings to our ICT staff and students, he averred.

UIL-TTD has also tied-up with partners such as South Tourism and Cultural Bureau, Hawassa Ceramic Industry, Adama Agricultural Manufacturing Industry, South Trade & Business Bureau, Rift Valley Lakes Basin Authority, Bishoftu Metal Processing Industry, eight Technical, Vocational and Educational Training Institutes from Gamo Gofa, Segen Area People’s and South Omo Zones, etc.

Adding his remarks, Dr Tolera, said, in the next few weeks, UIL-TTD personnel will go to different woredas to train individuals on milk agitating technology and automated injera-baking machine; a digital electronic device is being developed that will measure presence of metal contaminants in food, he summed up.

(Corporate Communication Directorate)