The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee celebrated international academic collaboration with Ethiopia by organizing an international event in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to meet and actively interact with IIT Roorkee Alumni and collaborative partner universities and potential collaborators. IIT Roorkee delegation members visiting Ethiopia were, the Deputy Director Prof M Parida, Dean of Resources and Alumni Affairs (DORA) Prof Partha Roy, Dean of International Relations Prof P Arumugam and Executive Officer from IR Office, Dr Ravikant Ranjan. During the event, more than a hundred alumni of IIT Roorkee participated, who are contributing to the process of nation-building in Ethiopia as academicians, administrators, engineers or policy-makers at different levels.
Chief Guest for the event was Shri Robert Shetkintong, Ambassador, Indian High Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event began with the welcome speech by DORA, with a presentation elaborating on a vast network of IIT Roorkee alumni and their contributions. It was followed by an address by the deputy director, IIT Roorkee. Sri Robert Shetkintog informed the gathering about the role of the Indian government in the nation-building of Ethiopia. He discussed significant growth in trade, academic collaboration and international cooperation between Ethiopia and India/ Indian Institutions. Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee addressed the event through weblink and interacted with guests & speakers.
Among the present senior alumni, selected participants were felicitated by the Deputy Director.
Representing Ethiopian partner institution Dr Anegagregn Gashaw, President, Debre Tabor University addressed the gathering. He appreciated the outreach event organized by IIT Roorkee and highlighted the growth of cooperation between IIT Roorkee and DTU since the signing of the MoU in 2019.
At this event new MoUs with Haramaya University, Ambo University and University of Gondar were signed, while MoU with Wollega University was renewed. At this event representatives of several Ethiopian universities participated and interacted with their Indian counterparts. During the event, a cultural program was also organized for the guests and the participants, highlighting the rich heritage of Ethiopia in the field of music and dance.