ADDIS ABABA (AAU/ Huawei) – Addis Ababa University (AAU), in partnership with Chinese multinational technology company Huawei, inaugurated a new ICT Practice Center at Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT).
The main purpose of the Center is to provide theoretical and practical training on microwave, wireless technology and software development in the telecom sector in liaison with providing training on the use of solar and generator power system to prevent frequent power cuts.
The ICT Practice Center is designed to train students, staff close to ICT of Addis Ababa University and other organizations, such as Ethio Telecom operators, undergoing theoretical and practical trainings before they start regular duties. The Center is implemented with an investment amounting to some 2.1 million U.S. dollars, including a donation of equipment worth about 1.9 million U.S. dollars for training and demonstration, and Train the Trainer program to AAiT teaching staff.
AAU as an excellent knowledge providing entity, needs the ICT Practice Center in order to equip its students especially graduates with practical skills, said Professor Tassew Woldehanna, President of the University, while briefing the importance of the Center during his inaugural speech.
“As digital economy is very important practice for Ethiopia to grow and the country is liberalizing the telecom sector, our universities including AAU, have to produce capable manpower equipped with practical skills that is able to join the ICT sector,” Prof. Tassew said.
Mulu Nega (PhD), State Minister at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE), on his part said, the need for highly qualified ICT graduates is very important as Ethiopia cannot realize the vision of digital economy without having capable and qualified ICT graduates.
Mr. Philp Wang, Executive VP for Huawei in Northern Africa, stated that, the fulfillment of constructing Huawei-AAU ICT Practice Center is to give experience and knowledge transfer to Ethiopia which will have a great contribution for the very future of its development endeavor.
During the ceremony, Huawei also handed over 30,000-dollar scholarship fund to Addis Ababa University for 10 postgraduate students annually within three years.