European Union (EU) higher education experts visited Arba Minch University (AMU) in March to assess the University’s readiness to implement the “Empowering Africa through Academic Mobility for Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, and Sustainable Development (AAM-CSD)” project. Click here to see more photos.
Giving lowdown on AMU, AMU President, Dr. Ing. Abdella Kemal, stated that AMU is among Ethiopia’s leading higher education institutions, committed to excel in teaching, research, and community engagement, the three core pillars, set by the government. He noted that the University has extensive experience in implementing collaborative projects at both national and international levels. He further explained that the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme aims to contribute to Africa’s economic, social, and human development by enhancing the skills and competencies of individuals, particularly in areas related to climate change and the green transition. He concluded by expressing confidence that the University will successfully accomplish the project in collaboration with its partners.
Dr. Tamiru Teseme, Scientific Director of the AMU Water Technology Institute (AWTi), highlighted the role of the Institute and explained that the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme is a European Union program designed to promote academic mobility and international learning across the African continent. He noted that the program supports consortia of African higher education institutions and provides scholarship opportunities for trainees, students, and staff across Africa. He added that the purpose of the visit is to assess the University’s current status and to support the ongoing implementation of its Intra-Africa academic mobility programs.
Dr. Tamiru Pawlos, a researcher, Principal Investigator, and coordinator of the “Empowering Africa through Academic Mobility for Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, and Sustainable Development (AAM-CSD)” project, stated that the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme is part of the Youth Mobility for Africa flagship initiative. The initiative aims to expand learning opportunities and academic exchanges while promoting Africa as an attractive study destination. He noted that Youth Mobility for Africa is among the flagship initiatives under education and training within the EU–Africa Global Gateway Investment Package. He further explained that the AAM-CSD project seeks to address the urgent need to develop a skilled African workforce capable of tackling climate change by strengthening intra-African academic mobility and enhancing capacity in climate change mitigation and adaptation across the continent.
Dr. Tamiru also emphasized that the project promotes both inter- and intra-institutional partnerships among leading African universities, thereby expanding access to green skills development through inclusive and collaborative learning opportunities. He added that the initiative contributes to improving the quality and internationalization of higher education while supporting the successful implementation of Global Gateway flagship projects in participating countries. The project has secured a total grant of €1,449,240.00 and is scheduled to run from January 2026 to December 2029, he noted.
Prof. Patricio Langa, a professor of higher education studies from the European Union, stated that AMU is one of the eight universities visited by the team and has benefited from EU funding to implement international academic mobility programs, including the exchange of students and staff. He noted that the purpose of their visit was to assess how the program will be implemented, learn from the University’s experiences, and identify areas for improvement from both the AMU and EU perspectives.
Ms. Huba Boshoff, a South African company owner whose firm has been contracted by the European Union to support mobility-related activities across Africa, stated that her team is visiting countries actively participating in the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme. She explained that the program is a unique initiative that supports the mobility of graduate students at the Master’s and PhD levels as well as academic staff exclusively within African countries. She further noted that their assignment is to explore key questions such as what factors contribute to the success of the program, what makes it effective, and how internationalization is being implemented with integrity across the African continent.
AMU top management members and staff from AWTI were in attendance.
For more Information Follow us on:-
Website - https://www.amu.edu.et/
Telegram - https://t.me/arbaminch_university
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ArbaMinchUniversityccd/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOO_nclhMo8M3r74OyPBlVA
Public and International Relations Executive
