IPDR, HU holds a Public Lecture on HEIs and Policy Diffusion/Transfer

Institute of Policy & Development Research (IPDR), Hawassa University, holds a Public Lecture on the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in policy diffusion and transfer by two international professors on January 30, 2024.

Prof. Leslie Pal, a distinguished scholar in Public Policy, founding Dean, and Dr Logan Cochrane, Associate Dean for College of Public Policy, HBKU, Qatar, delivered the Lectures where HU faculty and postgraduate students attended.

In his welcome note and opening speech, Prof. Tesfaye Semela, Director of IPDR, extended his grattitude for both speakers for picking up a timely topic from their area of expertise, and most importantly for their committment to realize a meaningful collaboration between HU and HBKU. 

Prof. Pal, in his talk, highlighted that HEIs are pivotal in disseminating SGDs policy franework through their primary mission as they have been producing a huge volume of knowledge on SDGs. Beyond, HEIs have now created frontiers and platforms for lolicy diffusion with the UN playing a facilitating role in some instances. 

Dr. Cochrane on his part stressed that HEIs could advance the purpose of SDGs pinpointing the importance of contextualizing some of the value aspirations. He noted that HEIs could serve as promoters of agency as to how the respective local context should fit into the Global agenda.

Responding to questions raised by participants, both speakers concurred to suggest that the SDGs might be ambitious with some of them difficult to achieve by 2030. They, however, highlighted the importance in inducing the aspirations to a better world in most cases grappling with issues of survival.

The two scholars later held meeting with the University's top leadership on further steps to the materialization of the partnership between HU and HBKU.