UEL collaborates with Ethiopian academics
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Published
15 March 2024
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Academics from the University of East London (UEL) have shared their experiences of research and writing with Ethiopian universities.
Over three days, more than 40 educators from six universities in Ethiopia engaged in workshops designed to bolster academic writing and publishing skills, providing a boost to the nation's research capabilities.
The programme, called Working in Solidarity with Ethiopian Universities, was funded by a British Academy International grant and comprised online sessions featuring Dr Meera Tiwari, Associate Professor of Sustainable Development Studies, and Dr Susannah Pickering-Saqqa, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Development and NGO Management in the School of Education and Communities.
Dr Tiwari said,
This collaboration stands as a powerful testament to the spirit of solidarity between the academic communities of the UK and Ethiopia. By sharing experiences and fostering collaborative efforts, we contribute to the collective strength of global academia, uplifting each other and advancing research capabilities.”
The backdrop to this initiative is the evolving policy landscape in Ethiopian universities. Over the last three decades, Ethiopia's higher education (HE) system has undergone significant expansion, with the number of public HE institutions skyrocketing from one to 45 universities.
While this expansion has widened access to higher education, it has also revealed limitations in educational standards. Consequently, the Ethiopian government has shifted its focus to enhancing the quality of education and research.
As one Ethiopian delegate said, “The challenges I face include a heavy workload and educational assignments, limiting the time and energy I can dedicate to writing projects. As a beginner writer, I struggle to establish networks and find mentors for guidance and support in developing my writing skills.”
In response, the Ministry of Education in Ethiopia categorised eight universities – including Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, and Hawassa – as “Research Universities” in 2020. For these institutions, a key imperative is a heightened emphasis on research and publication in reputable journals. Academic publishing has become not only a career necessity but also a critical aspect of personal development for staff in these Research Universities.
The programme is designed to strengthen the academic publishing capacity of these Research Universities. This arises from more networking and collaborative opportunities for early-career researchers and PhD students, by strengthening their writing skills and publication practices, particularly by empowering women in academia.
Despite facing delays due to a state of emergency in the Amhara region, where one of the main partners, the University of Bahir Dar, is situated, the programme's first phase successfully unfolded this month.
Dr Pickering-Saqqa said, “We were delighted to see such a strong number of women attend - over 43 per cent - and that significant changes in approach to writing are beginning. Participants shared that they would now collaborate on their drafts with peers, be open to learning from mentors, overcome and learn from the pain of rejection and think about their writing in terms of its rigour, originality and significance.
“This is just the first phase of the 18-month programme. Our next steps are to support the process of building a mentoring scheme for academics which is appropriate to the Ethiopian context. Participants will be drafting the terms of reference of the scheme over the next few weeks.”