Debark University Signs MoU with Leading Polish Universities
Debark University has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a consortium of renowned universities from the Republic of Poland: the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, AGH University of Krakow, and Lomza State University of Applied Sciences. This agreement marks a significant milestone in Debark University’s mission to strengthen international academic partnerships and elevate the global profile of Ethiopian higher education.
The signing ceremony took place on July 22, 2025 in Addis Ababa and was attended by senior officials from both parties. Debark University was represented by its President, Dr. Asmamaw Zegeye, along with the Vice Presidents. The Polish delegation included senior representatives from the partner institutions, reflecting a strong mutual commitment to academic excellence and sustainable collaboration.
The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework for cooperation in key academic and research areas. These include joint research initiatives, faculty and student exchange programs, curriculum development, academic conferences, and institutional capacity building. The partnership is grounded in a shared vision of fostering innovation, enhancing global academic engagement, and promoting sustainable development through higher education.
In his keynote address, Dr. Asmamaw emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership, noting that the MoU is not merely symbolic but serves as the foundation for a long-term alliance that will benefit both institutions, their students, and the broader communities they serve. He expressed confidence that the collaboration will open new avenues for research, teaching, and international engagement.
Dr. Gashaw Gismu, Vice President for Academic, Research, Technology Transfer, and Community Service, presented an overview of Debark University and spoke about the long-term value of the agreement. He outlined the university’s strategic goals and its plans to develop future centers of excellence, highlighting how this partnership will help strengthen key areas, particularly agricultural and environmental sciences, tourism development, athletics science, and rural outreach programs in health sciences.
Representing the Polish universities, Dr. Patrycja Pochwatk, Mr. Marcin Obalek, and Mr. Paweł Jeżyna presented overviews of their respective institutions and praised Debark University’s rising academic profile and dedication to educational advancement. They emphasized that the agreement marks the beginning of a meaningful partnership focused on collaborative research, academic mobility, and mutual learning. They pledged support for strengthening Debark University’s centers of excellence and shared insights from the experiences of Polish universities.
The partnership initiative was coordinated by
Dr. Yared Mullu, Vice President for Administration and Development at Debark University, whose leadership ensured the successful development and alignment of the agreement with the university’s strategic objectives.