1. The eGYAfrica Initiative Internet infrastructure & access for research and education institutions in Ethiopian HE&RIs Alem Mebrahtu, PhD alemmeb@gmail.com Mekelle University College of Natural and Computational Sciences Department of Physics Mekelle, Ethiopia Accra, Ghana 24-25, November 2010 The Electronic Geophysical Year Africa

2. Introduction For successful teaching, research and community services at the universities and conducting standard research by research institutions, access to an Internet connectivity and getting open access to information from the global community is highly important. Joining the global research and education community requires preparations in infrastructure and policy work both locally at a university level as well as nationally. Here I will try to communicate on what is on the ground regarding Ethiopian Universities, taking the case of Mekelle University as an example

4. AMBER ٭ MU ٭BDU ٭AAU Adigrat (AMBER): Loc: (14.27, 39.46) Mekelle (Mekelle University Loc (13.29, 39.28) Elevation: 2084m ٭JU ٭HU ٭JU ٭AmU ٭AU ٭WU ٭DDU ٭HaU ٭GU ٭AxU ٭SU ٭WoU ٭DBU

5. Ethiopian Universities with Internet Access List of universities and colleges in Ethiopia.pdfList of universities and colleges in Ethiopia.pdf A number of research institutions (particularly the agricultural once) have also an access to Internet connectivity All high schools have “Internet access” through what we call it SchoolNet and there is another connectivity called WoredaNet which connects the local administrative bodies

6. MU main campus From under a tree to a small village

7. The University has eight colleges and four institutes, seven centers in four campuses, ca (1500+2000) staff and ca 25K students in 52 departments (52UG+32PG)

11. Internet Connectivity @ Mekelle University and its major role All campuses are connected, eLearning started recently, online vacancies, bids, announcements, students dormitory assignment, news letters Small scale wireless availability at different places in the campuses Colleges have their own web pages under the university web page (www.mu.edu.org) Some run online journals (www.mu.edu.org/mejs)www.mu.edu.org/mejs Others start their own homepages with intention of reaching out their students on which they upload lecture notes, assignment Still critical problems with many staff to use the newly created opportunity 70:30 enrollment policy for science and technology:SS&H

12. Thank You