The Office of the Vice President for Research and Collaboration at Hawassa University organized Annual Review Forum for Collaborative Projects at African Union Hall, Main campus.
Dr. Tafesse Matewos, Vice President for Research & Collaboration, officially opened the forum. In his opening remarks, Dr. Tafesse underscored that collaboration and partnership serve as essential strategies for universities to mobilize resources, promote public-private partnerships (PPP), and solve complex, multi-sectorial problems. He emphasized that building strong networks is a vital tool for securing competitive grants from global funding sources.
Furthermore, Dr. Tafesse noted that it is high time for Hawassa University to work aggressively on expanding collaborations as the institution transitions into an autonomous research university. This pivotal transition, according to Dr Tafesse, directly influences the need for quality postgraduate programs, the attraction of international students, the advancement of cutting-edge research, and the generation of impactful innovations.
Dr. Shimelis Nigatu, Director for Collaborative Projects Coordination at HU, delivered an insightful overview of the University’s collaborative research activities. His presentation highlighted the impressive diversity, growth, and tangible impacts of these initiatives, emphasizing how they continuously contribute to institutional capacity building, global visibility, scholarly publications, and meaningful community services.
The forum featured progress reports from ten distinct collaborative projects, presented by their respective leaders (PIs) including comprehensively outlined project partners, goals, methodologies, outputs, ongoing challenges, and future directions. Reflecting HU's commitment to addressing global and local challenges, the featured projects primarily focus on: Renewable energy solutions, Animal feed and productivity, Natural resource and water management, and Essential newborn healthcare.
In recognition of outstanding dedication, the University honored its top grant winners for their exceptional contributions and performance, awarding them medals and certificates of merit. Accordingly, Dr. Ing. Mulugeta Dadi, Dr. Ing. Mihret Dananto and Dr. Dawit Hawaria received medals of recognition for their outstanding contributions.
While concluding the event, Dr. Tafesse extended his deepest appreciation to the dedicated staff members managing these collaborative projects, as well as the diverse local and international partners working hand-in-hand with Hawassa University mentioning that Hawassa University runs more than 100 active collaborative projects, driving innovation through strategic global and local networks.
