(Addis Ababa, January 15, 2026) — The EU-funded FAITH Project launched a two-day international conference, titled “Global Insights, Local Impact: Advancing Sustainable Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs),” at the Stay Easy Plus Hotel in Addis Ababa, which runs from January 15–16.
The conference Organized by Jigjiga University in collaboration with partner universities and global stakeholders, aims to advance the UAS model by reviewing the project’s three-year progress and benchmarking best practices from both local and international institutions.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Seid Mohamed, President of Jigjiga University, called for collective efforts to ensure Ethiopian UASs are impactful and practice-oriented. He emphasized that strengthening linkages with industry and public institutions is vital for long-term relevance and sustainability.
Dr. Teshome Nekatibeb, President of Kotebe University of Education (KUE), also addressed the gathering. Highlighting KUE’s leadership in the UAS transition, he noted that the conference serves as a vital platform for shared learning and collaboration to realize the UAS vision in Ethiopia.
The opening session was attended by high-level officials, including Dr. Eba Mijena, CEO of Academic Affairs at the Ministry of Education; Dr. Guchie Gulie, President of Wolaita Sodo University; representatives from the European Union; and delegates from 15 Universities of Applied Sciences nationwide.
The first day featured keynote presentations including “From Policy to Implementation: Ethiopia’s Transition Toward UASs” by Prof. Kai Händel, and “Project FAITH: Building Industry-Responsive UASs” by Dr. Ephrem Tekle, followed by interactive panel discussions.
The FAITH Project is an initiative dedicated to transforming traditional universities into Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs). The acronym FAITH stands for Fit, Adjusted, Innovative, Trendy, and Holistic—a model designed to align higher education directly with labor market demands.
