A Team of Scholars from JLU, Germany, visit Hawassa University.

A delegation of 10 members from University of Gießen (JLU), Germany, led by Prof. Dr. Ingrid Miethe has visited Hawassa University through the longstanding collaboration on students/staff exchange program between the two universities.

Prof. Tesfaye Semela, Director of Institute of Policy and Development Research at HU and an adjunct professor at JLU, warmly welcomed the visiting scholars at IPDR on March 18, 2024. On the occasion of welcoming them, Dr. Emebet Bekele, Director General of OERC at HU, also introduced HU highlighting on the university's efforts and experiences on internationalization and partnership.

Prof. Tesfaye Semela, on his part, spoke on "Education Opportunities for Children in Ethiopia" whereby he highlighted on education history and progress in Africa and Ethiopia based on extensive research data on enrollment, dropouts, gender gaps and special needs. In his presentation, Prof. Tesfaye underscored the unique traditional schooling experience for children at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church until the emergence of modern education at the turn of the 20th century. The serious gender gap and access for children with special needs education in Ethiopia was a topic of warm discussion after his presentation.

The visiting scholars from JLU are composed of six students and four professors from the fields of education and social sciences who are part of the student and staff exchange program between the two universities. As part of their observation and portfolio, the scholars will pay visits to a special school for children with autism in Hawassa, an orphanage, rural schools and orher institutions working on education during their stay.