27/06/2025
Madda Walabu University Participated in Multiple International Collaborative Initiatives!
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Madda Walabu University (MWU) has actively participated in several international partnerships and collaborative initiatives aimed at enhancing academic excellence, research, and community engagement.
A delegation from MWU, led by University President Dr. Ahmed Kelil, recently participated short-term visits to the University of Messina in Italy. During the visit, the team held high-level discussions with the Rector of the University Professor Giovanna Spatari and senior officials of the University of Messina, exploring areas of mutual interest and reinforcing their commitment to the ongoing collaborative engagement. Both institutions agreed to further strengthen partnerships in key areas such as medicine and health sciences, tourism and heritage management, Engineering, and wider areas of societal development issues.
Additionally, MWU took part in a seminar organized by the Institute for Italy-Africa Dialogue (IDIAF) – Treccani, held in Rome, Italy on June 20, 2025. The seminar, titled "University in Dialogue: Building Bridges between Italy and Africa – Universities Reading the Future Together," aimed to promote cultural and academic exchange to jointly address global challenges through innovative collaboration. During the seminar, MWU made brief presentations on the topic: “Inter-University Collaboration for Academic Excellence: The Experience of Madda Walabu University (Ethiopia) and the University of Messina (Italy).” The presentation highlighted opportunities and challenges in international collaboration, including student and staff mobility programs, and shared key insights for the endeavors. Comparative perspectives on the education systems, youth demographics, and institutional frameworks of Ethiopia and Italy were also explored. The collaboration, ranging from the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia to research laboratories in Messina, exemplifies how academic partnerships can bridge cultures and drive sustainable development.
The team sincerely appreciated the office of Internationalization of the two Universities, our colleagues of Messina University Professors and Roberto Brunetto for facilitating and coordinating the collaborative staffs and student mobilities in the past two years. Thank you!
MWU strongly believes that partnerships with key stakeholders based on mutual interests are vital to achieving the University’s mission and vision.
In line with this commitment, MWU also participated in the UNITAFRICA meeting, held on May 15–16, 2025, in Addis Ababa at the Italian Cultural Institute. (https://www.unitafrica.it/) is a major initiative that brings together 99 universities:- 21 from Italy and 78 from Africa. The initiative aims to strengthen academic cooperation between Italy and Africa, fostering quality and innovation in higher education through a shared learning environment. MWU is proud to be one of the participating Ethiopian institutions. Furthermore, MWU participated in the Erasmus+ Cluster Meeting and Contact-Making Seminar 2025 for Sub-Saharan Africa, held in Addis Ababa on May 20–21, 2025. The event was part of the Regional Erasmus+ Week, organized by the European Commission and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The event provided valuable opportunities for networking and building partnerships with universities across Ethiopia, Africa, and Europe.
Madda Walabu University
Excellence through Diversity
