A delegation from the Jonkoping University (JU) of Sweden led by Mats Jagstam (Ph.D.), President of the university, made a working visit to Addis Ababa University on June 20, 2017 and held discussion with University officials at the AAU President’s office.

Professor Admasu Tsegaye, President of Addis Ababa University, warmly welcomed the delegates and briefed them on the long standing cooperation between the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the AAU, especially in the expansion of the university’s graduate program.

During the discussion, Professor Admasu expressed AAU’s interest to further bolster cooperation with JU and draw lessons in areas where the AAU has capacity restraints.

Professor Admasu then outlined the areas that require capacity building schemes and partnership with JU to be: postgraduate programs, water resource related studies, Biotechnology, University – Industry Linkage and staff exchange.

Mats Jagstam (Ph.D.) stated that JU has vast experience in education methodology, research, student entrepreneurship and university industry linkage that the AAU can draw lesson from.

“The university (JU) has been pushing research from merely an academic requirement to demand driven and community impacting scheme that enhances outreach,” said the President.

“The university has strong bondage with business-engineering industries,” added the President.

JU is one of the international universities in Sweden in terms of the number of international students and faculty as well as its internationally focused research programme.