The Addis Ababa University (AAU) Vice President for Institutional Development, Hirut Woldemariam (PhD.), held talks with delegates from Chulalongkorn University of Thailand and the Thai diplomatic community at her office on May 31, 2016.

The delegates from the diplomatic community included a member of the Royal Thai Embassy in Cairo and Tsegaye Abebe, Thai Honorary Consul in Addis Ababa.

The meeting aimed at exploring potential areas of collaboration and partnership between the two institutions. Hosting the discussion with a number of university officials, Hirut woldemariam (PhD.) explained that at 65 years of age, the AAU is the oldest and the largest higher educational institution in Ethiopia with a rich experience in the teaching- learning process and research activities.

Other AAU officials also briefed and explored possible areas of collaboration between the two educational institutions.

Leader of the Thai delegation, Asst Prof. Natthanan Kunnamas, Director of the Interdisciplinary Department of the Faculty of political Sciences at Chulalongkorn University explained about the possible areas of cooperation between the Thai university and the AAU. She further indicated that African studies shall be an immediate area of collaboration as Africa is an emerging economy with further engagements to incorporate Ethiopian and Asian studies.

Both parties also agreed to further dig out other areas of cooperation such as staff and student exchange making plans to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the near future that allows them undertake joint research and the exchange programs.