The Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS), in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, hosted a two-day workshop titled “Leading Change in Higher Education: Adaptive Leadership for Institutional Transformation.”
In his welcoming address, Prof. Teketel Yohannes, Executive Director of the EAS, highlighted the collaborative effort behind the workshop. This workshop is part of a comprehensive two year initiative aimed at facilitating the transition of Ethiopia’s public universities to autonomous governance. This timely reform seeks to enhance institutional effectiveness, improve academic quality and foster innovation across the higher education sector.
Dr. Birhanemeskel Tena, President of Kotebe University of Education, underscored the challenges faced by current leaders in higher education during this period of rapid transformation. He noted that we are confronted with technological disruptions, shifting societal demands, and evolving expectations from learners. These factors necessitate a rethinking and reimagining of our leadership approaches in education.
H.E. Mr. Kora Tushune, State Minister of the Ministry of Education, underscored the Ministry’s commitment to prioritizing leadership as a crucial element for successful reform. He stated that, without effective leadership, our reform efforts will not yield the desired results. He further highlighted the Ministry’s recognition of the urgent need to enhance local leadership capacity, which includes the establishment of Educational Leadership Excellence Centers. These centers will serve as vital knowledge hubs to support ongoing and future reforms.
This event gathered a diverse group of experienced leaders from Ethiopian universities alongside international experts, Dr. Ricardo Lozano and Prof. Nasir Bogale. Both speakers bring a wealth of experience in transforming higher education and were invited to share their valuable insights and institutional experiences.
The workshop convened university presidents, vice presidents, and academic leaders from 16 Ethiopian research and applied sciences universities to strengthen leadership capabilities and promote transformative initiatives across the nation’s higher education sector.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Ryan Bradeen, Acting Counsellor for Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy, emphasized the robust partnership among the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Embassy and the Ministry of Education. He highlighted their collaborative efforts in facilitating the transition of universities to autonomous governance in Ethiopia, underscoring the significance of this initiative for the country’s educational landscape.