As part of their study abroad summer program, group of graduate and undergraduate students of policy and development, from the University of Maryland, USA, have visited Addis Ababa University on June 12, 2015.
Abdissa Zerai(PhD), Head of the School Journalism and Communication has presented to the visiting students on the topic entitled ‘’Media in a Democratic Developmental State”. He has explained the concepts, common features and challenges of developmental state.
In addition to the lecture, the event has featured the students’ interactive discussions with our graduate students from school of Journalism and Communication and Center for Human Rights. Accordingly, the students from both universities have discussed on issues pertinent to media, democracy, developmental state, human rights, policy and development related issues, gender discrimination, and female empowerment. The students have further interacted and shared experiences on the class room culture, intercultural communication, academic freedom, and student led clubs and initiatives.
Satishkumar Belithathan (PhD), A/Director, Office of External Relations, Partnerships and Communications in his closing remark has indicated that the newly established office of International Students and Scholars has been working very hard in the past two months to increase number of international students at AAU. As a result of the work of the unit, currently, AAU hosts four students from University of Michigan as well as it will soon receive an exchange student from UMASS Boston.
Mr. Asres Bantigegn, head of the newly launched office for International Students and Scholars has coordinated and organized the event. Office for International Students and Scholars is a new unit hosted within the office of the External Relations, Partnerships and Communications of the Addis Ababa University.