1. The impact of North South University Collaboration:The Case of Mekelle University 13 February,2014 Leuven,Belguim Mitiku Haile

2. BACKGROUND  The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and 2012 stressed the need for “Encouraging twinning of universities in developed and developing countries” (Agenda 21,Chapter 36).  Exchange between Higher Education Institutes in developing and developed countries brings mutual benefit for both sides.  Many innovations in higher education are indirect results of these cooperation activities.

3. THE CHALLENGE With global interdependence it is critical that nations have the institutional capacity to interact globally to solve problems and create opportunities related to: development, security, peace and justice Broad based development and transformation in the South requires a significant human and institutional capacity development

4. Specific challenges of African Higher Education Institutes Financial constraints affecting faculty and infrastructure development Isolation from global knowledge generation systems Low levels of research and technology development Inadequate training of leadership and management in advocacy, marketing, fundraising and governance Uneven access along gender, ethnicity

5. The impact of North South University Collaboration: The Case of Mekelle University in the drylands of Tigray

6. North South University Collaboration … focus on Mekelle University

7. Anno 1995...the first auditorium of Mekelle University...

8. Birds' eye view of Mekelle University anno 2005 First auditorium First MU-Headquarters

9. 1996 – 2001: VLIR OI: Soil conservation (UGent-K.U.Leuven) 1998 – 2001: Desertification – Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (K.U.Leuven) 2001 – 2006: VLIR-OI: Fighting desertification (K.U.Leuven) 2000 – 2004: VLIR-OI: Forest rehabilitation (K.U.Leuven) 2003 - now : VLIR- Institutional Collaboration All Flemish Universities Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) – Mekelle University, Ethiopia OVERVIEW MU-FLEMISH COLLABORATION

10. VLIR OI Soil conservation 1 st PhD Mintesinot Behailu: ‘Assessment and optimization of traditional Vertisol irrigation in northern Ethiopia: a case study at Gumselasa microdam’, became vice-president of Mekelle University

11. VLIR-OI Forest rehabilitation through natural regeneration in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia PhD Kindeya Gebrehiwot: ‘Ecology and Management of Boswellia papyrifera dry forests in Tigray, northern Ethiopia’- now President of Mekelle University

12. Matchmaking for the VLIR-MU-IUC Partner Programme Brussels, 2003

13. Enhancement and optimization of ICT usage Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) – Mekelle University, Ethiopia

14. Upgrading of library services Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) – Mekelle University, Ethiopia

15. MU-IUC Research Goal: Improved livelihood of the farmers in Tigray

17. Multidisciplinary assessment of land resources of Tigray MU-IUC Land team in action Project 1 – Land management

18. How much sediment is going to the blue Nile from Tigray Region?

19. Geba River Genfel Suluh Project 1 - Land Management

20. Project 2 – Geo-hydrology Digging 40 thousand farm ponds per year

21. Understanding behavior of water is a must in drought-prone Tigray MU-IUC Geo-hydrology project

22. Project 3 - More Crop per Drop

23. Harvest of the first Jonagold apples in Tigary......ode on the delicious apples...by the village poet of Hagere Selam

24. Surprisingly much fish in the micro dams of Tigray! How can this resource contribute to poverty alleviation and food security? MU-IUC Aquatic ecology project Project 4 - Aquatic ecology

25. I

26. Coming to grips with the farmer’s views… MU-IUC Socio-economy project Project 5 - Socio-economy

27. How to make local farm implements more efficient …? MU-IUC Farm management project Project 6 - Farm Technology

29. Farmer-centered Holistic and

30. Academic output Ethiopian PhD’s: 30 Papers in SCI journals: 135 International congresses: 4

31. Mekelle International Congress Livelihood 2013

32. And now? Mekelle university is willing to play a role in the VLIR-UOS country strategy Mekelle University has signed a MOU with KU Leuven

33. VLIR-MU-IUC Partnership between Flanders and Ethiopia at Mekelle Aiming at keeping the food basket filled on a sustainable basis