“Higher education institutions can impact the community positively. Every one of us can somehow affect the community around us. Every one of us can help our community and the world at large to become better,” said Hirut Woldemariam, PhD.
ADDIS ABABA (MoSHE)–H.E. Dr. Hirut Woldemariam Addressed an International Workshop on University-Community Engagement
An international workshop on University-Community Engagement was held on November 19, 2018 in Addis Ababa University with the aim of “transforming the Ethiopian universities to engage institutions that are responsive to public needs and problems in their teaching, research and community outreach, and making them accessible and accountable to their communities”” The workshop was organized by Addis Ababa University, Haramaya University and Hawassa University in collaboration with Colorado State University of USA.
H.E. Dr. Hirut Woldemariam, Minister of Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE), in her opening remarks said “higher education institutions can impact the community positively. Every one of us can somehow affect the community around us. Every one of us can help our community and the world at large to become better. We just need to have the good will to help the needy. What we need to do is to define our knowledge, capabilities, and skills and voluntarily dispense that for those who need it. Then, the task of improving our communities would become much easier and gratifying. Improving the quality of life of our people, creating a better environment for our community, helping the needy – orphans, elders, and all the others who need our support – should be our daily routine. We need to nurture positive energy around. We need to envision and bring better societies and communities into being.” She also added that “Higher education institutions have great potential to respond to their community needs not only through teaching, and research but also through direct community engagement. There needs to be a unique effort to respond to the needs of our communities around. We must envision a paradigm shift from the traditional community service model to university-community engagement where universities and communities co-create a strategic partnership and co-plan their future. In the new Ministry of Science and Higher Education, we believe that there is a need to redefine, redirect reorient and promote community engagement. Deserving value should be attached to staff and student voluntary services. Best experiences from universities in country as well as abroad should be shared and multiplied.”
This workshop is taking place in such a remarkable period of time where the new ministry has put up a new community engagement – a voluntary service initiative with the brand “one Saturday for my community” that was endorsed by the council of universities a few days ago and going to be implemented in a couple of weeks time.
Participants of the workshop were Ethiopian Ministries, Ethiopian Universities, and global institutions, NGOs, donor organizations and Embassies. Presentations were made on current community service and engagement programs of major Ethiopian universities, global experiences of USA and Chinese Universities, and other relevant institutions.
Source: MoSHE