1. African Railway Center of Excellence (ARCE)
Key Developments, Issues and Challenges
Daniel Tilahun Redda (PhD)
Director, African Railway Center of Excellence
May 09, 2018
Lusaka, Zambia

2. Background
Key Developments
Issues and Challenge
Way forward
Outline

3. 1. Background Year Activities 2012
3 MSc programs in the Railway Engineering were started in collaboration with Ethiopian Railways Corporation
>160 students were admitted (first batch)
9 professors and 15 lecturers were trained abroad
2013
10 regional students (Djiboutian) were accepted in the programs (130 students were admitted second batch)
2014
Railway Engineering Center was established to lead the Railway Engineering Programs
First batch graduated
Preparation of proposal to the World Bank
The Railway Engineering Center was selected
Revision of 3 MSc Curricula and Development of 4 PhD Curricula
Launching of the MSc and PhD programs
>80 Students are accepted from Eastern and Southern African countries

4. 2. ARCE Organizational Structure
2. Key Developments
2.1 ARCE Organizational Structure
2. ARCE Organizational Structure
ACE as hosted within the host university, with organizational chart showing overall university structure and the ACE, and relationship with relevant faculties)
ACE internal project structure (within ACE, an organizational structure indicating the functions and personnel)
Indicate if there is any regular mechanism, such as project steering committee that monitors ACE progress within the university

5. 2.2. Students Attraction and Admission
ARCE have enrolled 81 students for 2017/2018 academic year
40% of students admitted are regional students which is above the target
27% of students admitted are female students
17 MSc students are sponsored by DAAD Scholarship (stipend and tuition)
All regional students stay at the university accommodation
Country
No. of students in the MSc and PhD Programs
MSc
PhD
Total
Ethiopia 33 15 48
Uganda 20 -
Kenya 2
Rwanda 7 1 8
Malawi
Somalia
Eritrea 65 16 81

6. Currently, the first semester is successfully completed
2nd round call for DAAD scholarship (>300 applications have been received)
1 expatriate staff from Rwanda
4 visiting professors (Norway, China and Korea)
Educational visits were organized at the railway industry

7. 2.3. Partnership with Institutions and Railway Industry
ARCE has 5 national, 4 regional and 5 international partners
ERC (Ethiopian Railways Corporation) one of the major partner from the railway industry
International partners:-
Southwest Jiaotong University, China (MoU and Partnership Agreement)
Central South University, China (MoU)
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Korean Railway Research Institute (KRRI), Korea
Korean Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), Korea
Sophia University, Japan (in progress)

8. Partnership Agreement
SWJTU and AAU/ARCE Partnership Agreement Signing Ceremony

9. No Areas of Partnership Expected Outcomes
Summary of Partnership Agreement between SWJTU and AAU/ARCE No
Areas of Partnership
Expected Outcomes 1
Staff and Student Exchange
20 courses to be delivered through staff exchange
40 staff will involve in jointly delivered courses
10 PhD students for research stay 2
Academic and Policy Research and Publication
2 joint researches
10 number of publication
2 number of policy briefs (regional conference) 3
Sectorial Capacity Building
2 consultancy projects
2 Standards Development

10. East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP)
16-TVET Center of Excellences (Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania)
TVET-Railway Center of Excellences (Dire Dawa College and Railway Academy)
ARCE and Southwest Jiaotong University ,China provide technical support to the TVET-Railway Center of Excellences Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) preparation

11. 3. Challenges Regional and International accreditation
Lack of core staff (local and expatriate staff ) in the field of railway engineering in the market
Lack of industry partnership in the region
Less number of PhD students from the region
Lack of space for laboratory
The financial process is lengthy to utilize our resource

12. 4. Way forward
Procurement of teaching and research laboratory equipments
Internship placement for MSc students (2017/18 A.Y Entrants) in the railway industries
Preparation to receive new students (2018/19 A.Y)
Strengthen partnership with national, regional and international partners
Short term training
Host the 2nd African Railway Conference in collaboration with partners

13. Thank You for Your Attention! Encircling Railway Technology !
ARCE
Encircling Railway Technology !