New partnership with Ethiopian University

A new partnership to work together on research and teaching opportunities has been agreed between the University of Wolverhampton and an Ethiopian institution.

A team from Addis Ababa University (AAU) visited Wolverhampton as part of a two-day workshop.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research and work together on curriculum development was signed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Geoff Layer during the visit.

Professor Layer said: “The University of Wolverhampton is committed to developing the employability of students. I see this as a good opportunity to work with Addis Ababa University to develop employer informed curriculum that would further enhance the employability of AAU students at various levels.”

Following the workshop, there is an agreement in principle to work with AAU on joint development and delivery of a number of the University’s business courses, including the MBA, MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Leadership and Management postgraduate degree programmes.

The courses would be delivered at the AAU’s College of Business and Economics (CoBE) and its new €11million new Ethio-European Business School which is due to be completed in 2017.

Dr Paschal Anosike, Director of the Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CAEL) at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We are delighted to have signed this new agreement with Addis Ababa University, which covers different areas of interest including research collaboration, curriculum development and capacity building.

“The workshop was designed to provide the team with an understanding of our processes for jointly developing courses, with a view to delivering University of Wolverhampton programmes in Ethiopia.”

The delegation from AAU included Professor Upkar Pardesi, Director Ethio-European Business School (EEBS), Dr Fenta Abate, Dean of the CoBE, and Dr Matiwos Ensermu, Associate Dean CoBE.

The two-day workshop and MoU signing followed a visit to the University in September 2014 by the President of Addis Ababa University, Dr Admasu Tsegaye.

Addis Ababa University is one of the oldest universities in Africa, established in 1950 as the University College of Addis Ababa (UCAA). With over 51,000 students, AAU is the oldest and the largest higher learning and research institution in Ethiopia.

ENDS

Picture (l-r):Dr Paschal Anosike, Director of the Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership, Miceal Barden, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Vice-Chancellor Professor Geoff Layer all from the University of Wolverhampton with Dr Fenta Abate, Dean of the CoBE, Addis Ababa University.

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736