The University of South Africa (Unisa) has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Addis Ababa University (AAU) and Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU) as part of an agreement with the government to contribute towards high-level human capacity development in Ethiopia.

The purpose of the MoUs is to define areas for increased collaboration, African collaboration and scholarship, cooperation and interaction for further promotion of education, science and research in which the universities desire to work together in the future for their mutual benefit, Unisa says.

Additionally, the universities are keen to advance their national, regional, continental and international interests particularly on advancing the African interest, African Union Agenda 2063, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, science diplomacy and internationalisation in general.

"The MoUs open yet another chapter for close collaboration between Ethiopian and South African institutions on top of the already existing strong cooperation and friendship between the peoples and governments of Ethiopia and South Africa.

“The memoranda were signed by Unisa principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa vice principal Professor Tenjiwe Meyiwa, AAU president Professor Tassew WoldeHanna and AASTU VP Dr Abraham Debebe," Unisa says.

In its operations in Ethiopia, Unisa has produced close to 1 000 graduates, the majority of whom are doctoral degree holders. The graduates are contributing to the development of the country in various sectors, including high-level leadership roles. More than half of the doctoral graduates are university academics.

"This clearly demonstrates the contribution Unisa has made in strengthening research and teaching capacity of Ethiopian universities. Currently, Unisa is conducting a strategy workshop to draw a roadmap for strengthening and expansion of its human capacity development and science diplomacy activities in Ethiopia and the Eastern Africa region," the university says.