Hawassa University Institute of Technology hosts the NURTURE project official launching program at the main campus.

Dr. Fasika Bete, Scientific Director for the Institute of Technology said in his welcoming speech that this project will create synergy in health, informatics, and special needs education and opportunities for interdisciplinary education, research, and digitalization. Through staff capacity development, interdisciplinary research, curricula revitalization, and digitalization, the project enhances social cohesion, sustainable development, and active citizenship, personal and institutional fulfillment across the partner universities.

Dr. Tafesse Matiwos, Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer said in his opening speech that the project provides both financial and technical supports to accelerate capacity-building efforts of Higher Learning Institutions and it aims at to contribute to better, relevant, accessible, and efficient higher education system in Ethiopia. The project also creates a platform for co-creation and boot camp seminars for graduate students all of which contribute to create job opportunities for the youth through enhancing student innovativeness and career development.

During his presentation about the project, Dr. Shegaw Anagaw, a project coordinator from the University of South-Eastern Norway said that Nurturing sustainability development goals through Higher Education Capacity Building in Ethiopia (NURTURE) is a Norwegian Government funded North-South-South collaborative project led by the University of South-Eastern Norway.

Dr. Tesfaye Bayu, Deputy Director for IoT Research and Technology Transfer Directorate said that the project will support the implementation of 4 new masters, 1 PhD program, assists the revision of 16 courses; support 45 MSc and PhD scholarships. Moreover, it will develop digital solutions for students with sensory impairments, strengthen access to digital content through eLearning platforms and small-scale educational infrastructures.