The formulation process of VLIR-UOS-approved six projects of Arba Minch University got kicked off on 30th March, 2016, at Main Campus. A team of experts from four Flemish universities with AMU project leaders have jointly began looking into the specificity to fine-tune proposals to be submitted to the funding agency by May 9, 2016. Click here to see more picture
AMU President, Dr Damtew Darza, opening the conference, said, ‘‘These six projects are of paramount importance to the university because they will help achieve the identified targets set under 2nd Growth and Transformation Plan of the country. This partnership will further cement the on-going capacity building efforts by sharing innovative ideas which are, in fact, changing lives.’’
He further stresses that in order to bring about development in economic and other public sectors government has chosen education as a tool to produce qualified manpower; collaboration with VLIR-UOS is a step in that direction.
The conference began with a minute silence in honor of Brussels airport and metro train attacks’ victims. Corporate Communication Directorate Director, Mr Fissiha Bekele, anchoring the event, gave a brief perspective to audience about VLIR-UOS-AMU collaboration.
Vice President for Research and Community Service, Dr Guchie Gulie, lauding VLIR-UOS’ role strengthening social development process in Ethiopia, said, ‘‘It’s great opportunity for AMU and the nation to get our capacities built in many ways. It will vitalize our intellect to identify problems and address them with objectivity.’’ He also highlighted the salient features of IUC-AMU program.
Program Officer, Prof. Wannes Verbeek, speaking on VLIR-UOS & IUC, said, ‘‘Institutional University Cooperation is the flagship of VLIR-UOS South cooperation that collaborates with 1st and 2nd generation institutions and partners with 10 universities including AMU. Formulation process will look into formats, management cycle, budgetary provision, etc that will give unravel the closer view of local situation, log-frame, risks, analysis and draft narrative.’’
Mr Koen De Koster on logical framework approach, said, ‘‘It will help tighten the projects by looking into issues like gender equality and environmental protection; stakeholder and problem analysis will take participants into the problem tree.’’
In post-lunch session, IUC-AMU formulation teams went into group discussion wherein they collectively identified underlying problems, issues and thereafter shared the outcomes with other respective groups.
A 7-member Flemish team including VLIR-IUC Coordinator, Roel Merckx, KU Leuven and of six project leaders, Dr Fredrik Questier of Vrije Universiteit Brussels is coordinating with AMU team on project - ‘Improving teaching and research processes of AMU by enhancing ICT and library automation.’
Dr Miet Maertens of KU Leuven is in-charge of ‘Embracing ethnic diversity to streamline livelihood strategies.’ Dr Jean Pierre Van Geertruyden, Antwerpen University, is looking into ‘Improving maternal and child health in the South Ethiopian Rift Valley.’
Dr Matthieu Kervyn, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, will fine-tune ‘Reversing land degradation for sustainable economic development in South Ethiopian Rift Valley; Dr Geert Janssens, Gent University, scrutinizes ‘Improving agricultural productivity in South Ethiopian Rift Valley,’ while Dr Luc De Meesterof KU Leuven heads ‘Biodiversity conservation for sustainable development in South Ethiopian Rift Valley.’
The deliberation will continue till April 2, while IUC-AMU teams’ field visit to project areas is planned on April 3. The conference will conclude on April 4 as it looks into remaining issues.
(By Corporate Communication Directorate: Philips Joseph)