A delegation led by prof. Xiaoru Wang, Assistant President of the South-West Jiaotong University of China, visited the AAU and held discussion on potential areas of cooperation with university officials at the Senate Hall of AAU’s Main Campus on April 1, 2016.

Zenebe Beyene (PhD.), Director of the office of External Relations, Partnerships and Communications, on behalf of AAU President, Admasu Tsegaye (PhD.), stated in his welcoming speech that education is the most powerful tool to transform a country and transforming our institutions is imperative towards attaining that goal.

The delegation discussed the feasibility study of establishing a railway academy in which the AAU would provide its tremendous experience and best practice in terms of educational system while learning more from its Chinese counterpart.

Birhanu Beshah (PhD.), Head of the School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Railway Engineering Center of the AAU, briefed the delegation on railway MSc. Programs. He noted that Railway Civil Engineering, Railway Mechanical Engineering and Railway Electrical Engineering programs were launched in 2012 by the AAU. He further stated that the AAU will contribute its share in providing qualified manpower for the Railway Academy that is going to be established in the near future.

The meeting featured brief promotional videos by both sides to give participants some perspective about AAU and South-West Jiaotong University.

Ethiopia reached at an agreement with the Chinese government to build Africa’s first railway academy in September 2015. A reported 800 million birr has been secured from the government of China for the construction of the training center.