African Student’s Life Experience Sharing Program held with Hawassa University’s International Students from Republic of South Sudan.

In 03/07/21, African student’s life experience sharing program held at Hawassa Oasis Hotel upon the organization of Hawassa University’s College of Medicine and Health Science together with International Relations & Alumni Affairs Directorate, Office of External Relations and Communication.

The Director for International Relations & Alumni Affairs Directorate in OERC, Hawassa University, Mr. Yohanan Yokamo has introduced the program to invited participants and welcomed all the participants to the program. He mentioned that Hawassa University has been providing different programs to international students, particularly to neighboring nations from Republic of South Sudan, East Africa for a very long time.

Chief Executive Director (with Rank of Vice President) of Hawassa University’s College of Medicine and Health, Dr. Anteneh Gadissa has warmly welcomed all Specialty, Internal Medicine International Students and invited guests to the program. Dr. Anteneh has explained about the objectives of the program that primarily aimed at helping the African students at College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University to share the experience of each other and providing African students at Hawassa University with information about the University. In addition he stated that program like this create an opportunity where the participants will meet with a representative of Hawassa University and further let international students and faculty to discover and learn different culture and diversity with neighboring country students from Republic of South Sudan. Further, Dr. Anteneh in his opening speech said that since 2016 Ethiopia have been developing Republic of South Sudan human resource not only in health system but in other aspect. He mentioned that Ethiopia has graduated many South Sudanese doctors trained in different fields of specialties and Hawassa University alone which is one of the best universities in  the nation has three graduate residents in OBS/GYN and two in General Surgery and they have reached home and currently serving with great distinction

In his turn, Dr. Tombek Lino Maringgaba is international postgraduate student from Republic of South Sudan in the college of Medicine and Health sciences at Hawassa University has presented about the relation between South Sudan and Ethiopia. In addition, Dr. Tombek shared to the participants of the program about their student life experience in Hawassa University, Ethiopia. He stated that Ethiopia is a second home for him and Hawassa University is well known to South Sudan students. He emphasized that the Republic of South Sudan and her people will always be indebted to Ethiopian brothers and sisters.

Following the Director for International Relations & Alumni Affairs Directorate in OERC, Hawassa University, Mr. Yohanan made a presentation to international students and invited guests about Hawassa University. He stated that Hawassa University is one of public research universities in Ethiopia and currently, the University has eight Colleges and three Institutes and Eight Colleges. He mentioned that in recent years, the number of international students has increased in Hawassa University and the University has boasted itself by having a large population of international students with different culture and diversity. The number of African students is growing steadily and Hawassa University shall keep attracting the international students and organize different programs like today to its international students. Also Mr. Yohanan has emphasized that Hawassa University has a strong belief that its international graduates (Alumni) are potential assets & can have enormous contributions to its success.

Finally, different ideas have been forward and very constructive discussions made with participants of the program. Lastly, the Acting General Director for Office of External Relations and Communication at Hawasssa University, Mr. Mathiwos W/Giorgis has made concluding remarks of the program.