newsletter >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

Upcoming Event

Information &

orientation session at

Goethe-Institute (pg. 1)

Reception at the

German Embassy (pg.

2)

DAAD Information

Sessions (pg. 2)

Science Slam (pg. 3)

Home-Grown PhD

selection (pg. 3-4)

First Graduates from

GESI/IPSS (pg. 4)

AEEP Roadshow (pg. 4

-6)

CSLA Selection (pg. 6)

Discussion with Mr.

Nooke (pg. 6)

Imprint

Publisher

Deutscher Akademischer

Austauschdienst

P.O. Box 200404

D-53134 Bonn

Contact

Tel. : +251 (0)939 658882

E-Mail:

office@daad-ethiopia.org

Website:

www.daad-ethiopia.org

Facebook:

DAAD Ethiopia

www.facebook.com/

DAADEthiopia

Editors

PD Dr. Gerald Heusing,

Girma Teshome, Yonas

Kebede & Johanna Teubner

Dear Reader,

we are proud to present you our fourth

newsletter and hope that you are going to

enjoy reading it. We thank all the people who

have written some additional articles and

helped us to obtain an interesting newsletter.

Enjoy your reading!

Information and

orientation for new

scholarship holders

The DAAD Information Centre is planning to

give an information and orientation session at

Goethe-Institute on June 11th 2015 for

interested people and new scholarship-

holders who are going to Germany soon.

It is the target to provide first-hand

information on how life in Germany is and to

answer concrete questions that the listeners

will have. Moreover, some alumni will attend

the event to talk about their personal

experience they have had in Germany.

Past Events

Welcome to our second

“kulturweit” Volunteer

My name is Johanna Teubner and I am the

second kulturweit volunteer working at the

Information Centre in Addis Ababa for the

next five months. Kulturweit is a programme

initiated by the German Unesco Commission

and supported by the German Federal

Foreign office.

During my time here I will be responsible for

the webpage and Facebook account of the

DAAD. Moreover I am going to join the

information events held by the DAAD and will

talk about my experiences in Germany.

So far I had a great time at the IC and I am

very glad to being so warmly welcomed both

at the Office and in Ethiopia.

Back in Germany I finished my Bachelor’s

degree in European Studies and started my

Master’s in International Migration and

Intercultural Relations at the University of

Osnabrueck. Besides studying I spent a lot of

time helping international students getting

along at the University and organizing events

and being active for the Green’s University

association and Youth for Understanding

Committee (YFU Germany).

I am very excited about the upcoming time

here in Ethiopia and looking forward to new

experiences and challenges.

Please contact me via:

E-Mail: support@daad-ethiopia.org

Phone: +251 (0) 937 603082

Upcoming Event

Page 2

newsletter >>>>>>

Reception at the German

Embassy on the occasion

of awarding the DAAD

scholarships 2015

On May 18th 2015, the awarding of DAAD

scholarships took place at the German

Embassy. Scholarship holders joining

different programmes such as EPOS

(Development-Related Postgraduate

Courses), CSLA (Civil Society Leadership

Award), Ethio-German Home Grown PhD or

Re-invitation, have been invited to celebrate

their success and to appreciate the excellent

work they have done.

New scholarship holders at the German

Embassy Addis Ababa

Ambassador Mr. Joachim Schmidt warmly

welcomed the new scholarship holders.

In his speech, he put an emphasis on the

further meaning of each scholarship and

especially the DAAD network which will be a

lifelong companion. Moreover, the very good

relations and the importance of them between

German higher education institutions and

Ethiopian universities have been pointed out

to be a good basis for upcoming times and

further cooperation.

Each programme and scholarship is offering

the chance to go to Germany for a little while

and gain new experiences considering both

individual education and career as well as

sharing knowledge from both sides.

DAAD Information Centre Ehtiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

DAAD Information Ses-

sions 2015

Students at Gibson Youth Academy

During the last months, the DAAD IC Ethi-

opia held three information sessions at

different places and on different occa-

sions. First, students and interested peo-

ple have been invited to join one event at

Goethe-Institute Addis Ababa. Topics

such as DAAD’s project funding, scholar-

ships for a Master’s or PhD degree as

well as non-DAAD scholarships have

been presented. A few weeks later, our

staff welcomed around 25 women from

the Women Association Addis Ababa and

tried to encourage these women for stud-

ying abroad via the DAAD.

Furthermore, we were invited at Gibson

school systems to hold two sessions for

their 11th and 12

th graders at two campus-

es. More than 300 pupils listened to our

presentation on the Higher Education

System in Germany, requirements for

studying, the application process as well

as on scholarships and student life in Ger-

many. In total, more than 400 people at-

tended our events.

Due to the successes we had with these

information sessions, we were always

invited to give more presentations on

DAAD’s work and how to study in Germa-

ny. If you are interested in conducting an

information event with us, please call

+251 93 760 3082 or write an email to

support@daad-ethiopia.org or of-

fice@daad-ethiopia.org.

Reports

Econometrics in

Ethiopia (pg.7)

AEEG turning 20

(pg. 8)

An Ethio-German

research collaboration

(pg.8-12)

Prof. Whasik Min,

Dean—School of

Chemical and

Biological Engineering,

AAiT/AAU (pg. 12-13)

Report from a DAAD

scholarship holder (pg.

13-14)

Expectations of a

DAAD scholarship

holder (pg.14-15)

Announcements

In-Country/In-Region

Scholarships

2015/2016 (pg.15)

DAAD‘s application

training (pg.16)

DAAD goes Facebook

(pg.16)

Call for Application:

PPGG (pg.16)

Development-Related

Postgraduate Courses

(pg.17)

Page 3

newsletter >>>>>>

First Ethiopian Science

Slam at Goethe-Institute

The three contestants

This month, the first Science Slam in Ethiopia

took successfully place at the Goethe-

Institute.

In total, three brave so called “slammers”

presented their research topics in both a

scientific and entertaining way. As it seemed

the audience enjoyed listening to the young

students and scientists and were impressed

by the creativity which the candidates have

shown. The chosen topics for the individual

presentations showed a great variety and let

the audience get some insight into the

“Evolution of Technology”, grinder and

discovering podoconiosis susceptibility

genes.

It is the aim of Science Slam to create a

communication platform between Science,

young researches and the public. The

interaction encourages scientists to present

their project in an appealing and

understandable way outside the University

and its context. Moreover, since the audience

has to vote who is going to be the winner of

this contest, this kind of event offers also an

active participation for the audience. This

formate of communicating Science has been

established in Germany in 2006 and has

since gained popularity. Last June, even a

European Science Slam took place in

Copenhagen.

Though this Science Slam has not had many

participants, the main idea became clear and

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

the audience has been delighted by the pre-

senters.

At this point I would like to thank the partici-

pants again for the amazing presentations.

The Information Centre DAAD Ethiopia is

willing to keep organizing Science Slams in

the future. In case you are interested to par-

ticipate, please do not hesitate to contact us

through e-mail support@daad-ethiopia.org

or call us: +251 (0) 937 60 30 82

One contestant while presenting

30 Selection Interviews

conducted for the Ethio-

German Home Grown

PhD Programme

The selection committee at work

Human resource development by the way of

education and competence development is

considered to be the corner stone of long

term Science and Technology capacity build-

ing in Ethiopia. Currently, a lack of properly

trained work force has been critical

INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIPS

The DAAD offers a variety of

postgraduate scholarships for

Ethiopians. Click on the links

below to learn more about the

respective programme.

Scholarships for African

Regional Networks and

Centres

Postdoctoral Fellowships at

DAAD Supported Centres of

Excellence

Fellowships for Staff

Exchange in Sub-Saharan

Africa

Research Grants for Doctoral

Candidates and Young

Academics and Scientists

Scholarships for Development

-related Postgraduate

Courses

Master´s Scholarships for

Public Policy and Good

Governance

Scholarships for Centres of

Excellence for Promoting

Future Leaders in Africa

Leibniz – DAAD Research

Fellowships 2015

DLR - DAAD Research

Fellowships

Doctoral Programme

“Transnational Social Support”

In-Country/ In-Region

Scholarships

Please find all scholarships

(DAAD and non-DAAD) in

our database.

Page 4

newsletter >>>>>>

Continued from page 3

constraint to deliver qualified manpower in

Ethiopian higher education institutions.

The Ethio-German Home Grown PhD

Program is part of the ongoing Engineering

Education Capacity Building programme. It is

a joint programme between DAAD and the

Ethiopian Ministry of Education and runs until

2019. 30 candidates from 9 Institutes of

Technology and 2 Universities of Science and

Technology were interviewed 27-29 April

2015 by a joint selection committee

comprising three German professors and

three Ethiopian professors at the DAAD IC

office in Addis Ababa.

28 successful candidates will soon start their

research and plan to obtain their PhDs from

their respective Ethiopian universities within

three years. Half of the research stay will be

in Germany.

First Graduates of Global

Studies cooperation

programme

In March this year, a huge step for

sustainable commitment has been made: the

first graduation ceremony has been held with

Graduates from the cooperation programme

“Global studies: Peace and Security in

Africa”. Since October 2012 the Global and

European Studies Institute (GESI) at

University of Leipzig and the Institute for

Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) at Addis

Ababa University jointly offer this

interdisciplinary Master's program.

Dr. Geifes who attended the ceremony and is

responsible for transnational education and

cooperation programmes at the DAAD Head

Office in Bonn, was very surprised by the

experience the Graduates already have and

how remarkably motivated they are to serve

the civil society.

Not only Ethiopians but also citizens of

Cameroon, Djibouti, Nigeria, Tanzania,

Uganda, Zambia, Ukraine, Japan, Latvia and

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

Germany joined the programme and spent

their time studying in Addis Ababa and

Leipzig.

It is the aim of this study course to encourage

young transnational people to work for and

change their society.

The success of the studies is a result of the

investment in higher education made by the

students and several companies or African

Union and even of the transnational

education programme itself.

Investment in higher education needs to be

done, because “world’s higher education is

world’s basic education”, so Dr. Geifes.

The AEEP Investor

Roadshow 2015

By Phillip Travers

On the 21st of March 2015, the AEEP Investor

Roadshow took place at Monarch Hotel in

Addis Ababa. Approximately 50 participants

from 23 organizations joined the event.

The roadshow has been a new approach to

link innovative business ideas to potential

investors. The AEEP Investor Roadshow was

the conclusion of a 5 months

entrepreneurship training of students from

Arba Minch University within the pilot phase

of a joint education project of Arba Minch

University of Ethiopia and Neu-Ulm University

of Applied Sciences in Germany, called

“Applied Entrepreneurship Education

Programme” (AEEP). The AEEP Project is

funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic

Cooperation and Development (BMZ),

Germany and carried out by DAAD within the

program “University-Business-Partnership ”.

The goal of the AEEP project is to develop

and implement a new kind of

entrepreneurship education for Arba Minch

University and to draw general results for

entrepreneurship education methods in

FUNDING FOR INSTITU-

TIONAL CO-OPERATIONS

Do you know the following

programmes? If not, follow the

links for more details.

Subject-related Partnerships

with Institutions of Higher

Education

DIES University Partnerships

DAAD Programme PAGEL

University-Business-

Partnerships

DAAD Short- and Long-term

lectureships (only in German)

Page 5

newsletter >>>>>>

Continued from page 4.

Ethiopia. During the education, students

developed their own micro business concept,

developed technical prototypes by

themselves for it and implemented it in reality

together with overtaking micro entrepreneurs.

For example a mobile solar system has been

developed and implemented which charges

mobile phones in rural areas by moving from

market to market. After the micro business

development, the students continued to

develop ideas for bigger businesses for which

they have searched investors at the AEEP

Roadshow.

Mr. Phillip Travers

The students presented their business ideas

and its corresponding realization concepts at

the roadshow. Afterwards they discussed the

financial needs and business perspectives

with interested investors and supporting

organizations. Beside the students of the

AEEP Project, business ideas from the

entrepreneurship initiatives from icaddis and

AIESEC could present their business ideas

there.

The roadshow started with welcome

speeches of the main stakeholders of the

AEEP project, DAAD, Arba Minch University

and Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences

as well as an introduction about the AEEP

Project and the AEEP Investor Roadshow

conducted by the AEEP project manager

Phillip Travers.

Beside the AEEP Entrepreneurship approach

also iceaddis and AIESEC presented their

approaches. Afterwards the students

presented their start-up concepts and

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

discussed with organizations and investors

about it.

The roadshow concluded with an expert

panel discussion about entrepreneurship

development in Ethiopia and the potential

ways to encourage it further.

Especially, the AEEP Businesses Solar

Wagon Factory and CNC Factory arouse lots

of attention, yet, also a one dollar eye glass

factory from AIESEC’s businesses. The Solar

Wagon Factory targets to produce and sell

wagons which can be sold to people who

want to make money by moving around in un-

electrified rural areas and offering electricity

driven services such as mobile charging,

photography or others. The CNC Factory

targets to produce and sell CNC machines

cheaply with which you can treat wood

computer controlled with high precision on

three dimensions so that the machines can

be sold to people who want to produce and

sell wooden sculptures, souvenirs, toys or

similar in a standardized and efficient

way. Both start-ups groups get invited to

several follow-up meetings from different

organizations and we are looking forward to

see the businesses get realized.

Participants discussing

Beside participants from the roadshow

organizers Arba Minch University and the

Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences

participants of 21 organizations took the

chance to join the roadshow. Participants

have come from German and Ethiopian

governmental organizations, Universities,

NGO’s, from private companies and individual

investors.

GERMAN ACADEMIC EXCHAN-

GE SERVICE

Accra

Addis Ababa

Bonn

Johannesburg

Nairobi

Yaoundé

Country Information Ethiopia

(in German only)

German Research Directory

PhD Germany

Welcome to Africa (only in

German)

Page 6

newsletter >>>>>>

Continued from page 5

Special highlights have been the participation

of the first secretary for economic and cultural

affairs of the German Embassy, Dr. Patrick

Wegner, Mulu Salomon, the former president

the Ethiopian and Pan-African chamber of

commerce and Chairman of Entrepreneurship

of Addis Abeba University, Nigest Haile, the

Founder and CEO of the Center for African

Woman Economic Empowerment (CAWEE)

and Etalem Engeda, the Managing Director of

the Ethiopian Entrepreneurship Development

Center (EDC).

Further participants came from GIZ, the

Ministry of Education, the Ethiopian Chamber

of Commerce and Sectorial Associations,

Ernest & Young, World Vision and from much

more.

Participants are looking happily forward to

join such a roadshow next year again and

potentially such kind of events could develop

to an interesting way of market linkage for

Entrepreneurial Finance in Ethiopia.

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

32 Pre-Selection

Interviews for Civil

Society Leadership

Awards (CSLA) carried out

in February 2015

DAAD launched a new scholarship

programme in collaboration with the Open

Society Foundations this year. The

programme enables students to obtain a

postgraduate university degree, a Master´s or

LL.M degree at a German university. The

aim of the programme is to improve the

situation of the humanities and social

sciences in teaching and research and to

develop a network of German and Ethiopian

scientists which can lead to further

international contacts. Over 80 applicants

were registered out of which 32 were invited

for pre-selection interviews. The selection

panel included two German professors. Up to

10 successful applicants will be starting the

preparatory language courses in July/August

2015 in Germany.

Discussion with Mr.

Günter Nooke

On the occasion of his visit to Ethiopia, Mr.

Günter Nooke, Personal Representative of

the German Chancellor for Africa, met five

DAAD scholarship holders and alumni for an

informal roundtable meeting at the German

Embassy on 19 May 2015. The discussion

focused on their views regarding the

perspectives of the Ethiopian youth, their

expectations towards their future stay in

Germany respectively the experiences they

did in Germany.

GERMAN HIGHER EDUCATION

German Research Foundati-

on

Humboldt Foundation

Leibniz Association

Volkswagen Foundation

German Rector´s Conference

Page 7

newsletter >>>>>>

Econometrics in Ethiopia

By Prof. Dr. Daniel Porath, Hochschule Mainz

- University of Applied Sciences

People often addressed me when I was

walking on the streets of Addis Ababa.

„Welcome, Sir, where do you come from, do

you like Ethiopia and what are you doing

here“. Since the faces looked so friendly and I

was travelling alone, I did not mind entering in

conversations. I answered that I came from

Germany, and that I was sent from Mainz

University of Applied Sciences to teach a

blocked module at University of Addis Ababa,

and that I liked it very much. “Oh, you are

teaching Ethiopian students“, was the

answer, and „thank you so much“. With the

sound of this comment in my ear, I definitely

felt welcome in Ethiopia.

It was at the end of January when I held a six-

day intensive course in econometrics for MBA

students of the department of management.

Together with Dr. Mohammed Seid, professor

at this department, we had started designing

the module roughly one year before. We

decided to focus on regression models with

cross-sectional data and panel data including

logit and probit models. Management

students mainly use econometrics as a

research method, so the module should

enable students not only to understand the

theoretical background, but also to apply

econometric techniques to real research

questions. Therefore I prepared a lecture

containing theoretical expositions, illustrative

examples and small tasks to be resolved on

the computer with real data and statistical

software.

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

Generally, when working with international

graduates my major concern is to encounter a

group that is nearly ignorant about

undergraduate statistics. When finally arriving

at the computer lab in the 7th floor of the

Eshetu Chole building and meeting roughly

25 students, I soon realized that this was not

the case here. Participants were well

prepared and highly motivated. Any initial

reserve quickly disappeared and the daily six

hours of lecture passed rapidly with a lot of

discussions and questions.

My guest lecture was embedded in a larger

long-term project initialized by my colleague

in Mainz, Prof. Dr. Claudia Hensel and

supported by the DAAD. In their project, Prof.

Dr. Hensel and Dr. Seid are developing the

existing partnership between Mainz University

of Applied Sciences and Addis Ababa

University. I feel greatly indebted to both,

Prof. Dr. Hensel and Dr. Seid, and to the

DAAD for having created the opportunity for

guest lecturing in Addis and for having

supported me so kindly before and during my

stay. My thanks also goes to the students, it

was a pleasure working with them!

Prof. Porath with some of his students

LEARN GERMAN

Goethe-Institute Addis Ababa

Information about Studying in

German

Information about doing

research in Germany

Reports

Page 8

newsletter >>>>>>

AEEG turning 20

The Association of Ethiopians Educated in

Germany (AEEG), established in 1995,

conducted its annual general meeting on 14th

March 2015 at the Goethe Institute Addis

Ababa. Guests of Honor included Mr.

Benjamin Hanna, First Secretary for Political

and Press Affairs, and Dr. Gerald Heusing,

Director of DAAD IC Ethiopia.

Over 80 representatives of AEEG including

branch representatives from Adama,

Hawassa, Mekelle, Bahir-Dar, Gondar, and

Jimma attended the 19th Annual Meeting.

A presentation on the Ethiopian railways

development was made by Dipl. Ing. Tilahun

Sarka, who had studied at the University of

Dresden. Still another research result on the

role of credit access to improve household

welfare in Ethiopia by Dr. Bamlak Alamirew

who received his PhD from Justus-Liebig

University of Giessen, was on the agenda.

AEEG members elected a new Executive

Committee. The Association celebrates its

20th anniversary this year.

An Ethio-German research

collaboration

By Daniel Dormeyer

Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing

economies in the world with a double-digit

growth rate registered for about a decade.

And the rapidly expanding population of Addis

Ababa, which is some three million, is

expected to reach six million within 20 years,

according to the World Population Review.

The metropolis is heading towards a mega-

city status, which leads to an extremely fast

urbanization but also a sharp rise of

precarious settlements. Hundreds are

emerging every year, growing fast into urban

conglomerates. According the Central

Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook,

the annual urbanization rate in Ethiopia is

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

3.57 percent.

In reality the massive demand for housing

exceeds the actual offer, and current planning

approaches tend to fail when adapting to

existing urban structures. Moreover, the

supply systems are often underrated in the

planning stage, causing mal- or even non-

functioning.

In the efforts to find effective ways that will

contribute to solving the severe social,

economic and environmental problems

resulting from this irresistible urban growth,

the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture,

Building Construction and City Development

(EiABC) and the Bauhaus University of

Weimar (Germany) have teamed up and

entered a partnership in research and

implementation for sustainable housing in the

highly dense and critical parts of Addis

Ababa.

It takes two to tango

It has been three weeks since Lars-Erik De

Vries arrived from Germany but has been

working full speed since his arrival, as he had

to take over the planning responsibilities of

his predecessor who was about to return. No

time to adapt or to breathe. His days are filled

with meetings and scheduling, discussions,

on-site visits.

Despite his young age (27), Lars-Erik De

Vries is, by far, not a newcomer to the

business. Born in Hagen, Germany, he grew

up in Sierra Leone where his father used to

work as a pastor. He graduated at the

Bauhaus-University from Weimar, Germany,

and wrote his Master’s dissertation on an

ambitious building and urban development

strategy for Khalelitsha, a slum quarter of

Cape-Town, in South Africa, where he spent

seven months. He graduated summa cum

laude and instead of turning to eminent

architecture firms in his home country, he

accepted a mission as research assistant

under Professor Dirk Donath in Addis Ababa.

There he looks after the implementation of

HIGHER EDUCATION IN ETHIO-

PIA

Ministry of Education

(in Amharic and English)

Engineering Education Capa-

city Building Program (ECBP)

Page 9

newsletter >>>>>>

Continued from page 8

projects in progress as well as the

organization of an international symposium in

December.

“I consider this assignment as a unique

opportunity for research and development

work. Thereby I know from my own personal

experience how important it is to accept the

culture of a country you live in, and that it

takes time and patience. Sometimes it is also

necessary to go one step back before going

two steps forward. You should never forget

where you come from,” De Vries says.

Aknaw Yohannes, on the other hand,

originates from Ethiopia. He is 23 and studies

architecture at EiABC. Since his younger

days, technical work captivated him, so it was

no surprise when he chose this educational

section to research new building methods and

techniques for the benefit of the next

generations in Ethiopia. The fifth-year

undergraduate architecture student also

works as research assistant in Professor

Donath’s team.

Lars-Erik and Aknaw met for the first time in

Addis Ababa. Two different backgrounds but

one common challenge, help empowering

Ethiopia to a powerful and future-oriented

building industry with high technical and

social expertise.

“The 21st century will be an African century.

With its young and dynamic population, most

of the world’s uncultivated arable land,

untapped natural resources, a rising middle

class, and fast economic growth… Africa is

the next and perhaps last frontier in the

advancement of globalization.” Ethiopian

Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said in

2014.

A major contribution to this ambitious vision is

expected to come from the research

collaboration between two eminent

universities: the Bauhaus University Weimar,

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

a German architecture Institute of worldwide

reputation, and the Ethiopian Institute of

Architecture, Building Construction and City

Development, an academic hotspot in Africa.

Founded 1919 as the Bauhaus school to

bring together art and technology, the

Bauhaus University Weimar runs a broad

teaching and research profile, with a focus

around the disciplines of engineering,

architecture and urban planning. The two last

disciplines count 1,200 out of 3,600 students,

which makes it the largest faculty at the

university and even one of the largest in

Germany. The highly project-oriented and

interdisciplinary conception educates well-

trained professionals able to act as

coordinators between the disciplines of art

and design, and develop innovative solutions

for construction technology, architecture and

urban planning.

The EiABC, an independent Institute at the

Addis Ababa University (AAU) since 2010,

focuses on higher education and relevant

research of professionals, and providing

university-level knowledge to serve Ethiopia’s

needs in the building and urban fields.

Matching the rapid urbanization processes

with an own capacity for both academic and

practice-based assignments is considered as

the EiABC’s historic responsibility.

Driven by the internationalization of research

and teaching, the exchange of the Bauhaus

University Weimar with African universities

has been strengthened in recent years. On

the other hand, the EiABC is linked to

international universities and networks,

pursuing strong partnerships as fertile

grounds to build own their local capacities.

Hence it seemed obvious for both universities

to engage in close collaboration. “We both

share common values and attributes: we are

active and committed in researching and

implementing trendsetting ways to shape a

sustainable and equitable building future, for

Ethiopia, Africa and potentially at a more

global scale”, Donath says.

GERMAN EMBASSY ADDIS

ABABA

Online Apppointment for

Scholarship Counselling

Online Appointment for Visa

Application

Visa Information

Page 10

newsletter >>>>>>

Continued from page 9

From theory into praxis

In 2012, the EiABC and the Bauhaus

University Weimar launched the “Welcome

Africa” project 2012-2014. Funded by both

universities as well as the German Federal

Ministry of Education and Research, and

backed-up by DAAD (German Academic

Exchange Service), Strawtec Berlin,

icebauhaus Weimar, and AEE (Afro

European Engineers), this international

research and academic project are aimed at

strengthening the collaboration in research,

practical experiences and competency to

bring together contemporary building

technology with real circumstances.

Clear, though demanding, key principles

regulate this partnership: simple and cost-

efficient, self-assembling and architecturally

qualitative, usable for slum-upgrading and

appealing to the middle class, and workable

also without the intervention of top-class

specialists.

The “Welcome Africa” project includes the

realization of three experimental prototypes in

scale 1:1 in the years 2012-2015, all building

up on each other and with increasing required

academic education levels: SECU, SICU and

MACU.

The first prototype, called SECU (Sustainable

Emerging City Unit), was focused on material-

oriented research and realized in 2012 in

three months only at the EiABC campus.

Targeting a starting house for fast-growing

urban areas in Ethiopia with innovative and low-

weight construction materials and techniques, it

introduced the potential of highly compressed,

prefabricated straw panels, easily assembled

with a wooden frame.

A punctual foundation enables to keep water

away from the straw plates, which also

compose the floor surface.

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

“This floor surface is surprisingly so resistant

that it can even withstand the weight of a four

-wheel-drive car,” De Vries says.

The SECU prototype is already in the pro-

cess of being implemented in Rwanda.

The second prototype, called SICU

(Sustainable Incremental Construction Unit),

involves medium enterprises of prefabrica-

tion industry and was started in 2013. In this

mainly process-oriented research phase, the

international team of students with their tu-

tors researched and explored the possibilities

of designing and realizing an incremental

housing unit in an urban context.

The SICU prototype is a compact double-

storey unit comprising a prefabricated con-

crete lower structure and lightweight eucalyp-

tus frames for the upper floor, and respecting

the same requirements: affordable and rapid

to assemble with building and architectural

qualities. After all parts have been prefabri-

cated by micro- and small-scale enterprises,

creating skilled employment and capacity

building, the building was constructed in ten

days by 35 students from three countries and

now stands up in a highly dense neighbor-

hood of Addis Ababa, serving to demonstrate

an alternative housing approach that prompts

further discussions between policymakers,

industry actors and members of the academ-

ia.

Homeowners will be able to finish this pur-

posely incomplete construction themselves

by installing building components (wood, cor-

rugated metal sheets etc) according to their

needs.

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Continued from page 10

“This concrete baseplate can be loaded on a

small rack body truck and it takes only four

people to assemble the unit,” De Vries says.

Interestingly, this unit considers also space for

little shops or cattle besides the habitable

surface. Currently, the unit has two floors (“G+1”

or “ground floor + one additional level”), but it

could go up to “G+3”. Basically, the extension of

the living units designed by the university

team represents another key parameter in the

context of fast urbanization. Further attention

will get paid to the upgrading of showers and

toilets, with the objective to deploy

underground and rainproof tanks for used

waters (so-called “grey water” from the sink

and “black water” from the restrooms).

Discussions are underway to validate the

building of a larger number of SICU in the

outskirts of Addis Ababa.

The third prototype, called MACU (Mobile

Automated Contemporary Unit), has been set

up this year and production oriented. It

integrates the environmental constraints in a

holistic design and realization process.

Placed in Juba, South Sudan, and

coordinated by the experts and researchers

from EiABC, MACU is conceived according to

a modular principle. Using CNC (Computer

Numerically Controlled) machines, the

plywood boards get molded with millimeter

precision as predetermined on the global

building plan, a simple principle reminding a

Lego construction set.

The first MACU is in the process of getting

built up in Addis Ababa.

This prototype of a minimal customized house

for the middle-income class represents a

small residential unit that offers an

appreciable extension potential in width and

height thanks to smart connector systems. In

short, it is a house built to grow with the

family.

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

Bringing building structure and infra-

structure in sync

This joint Ethiopian-German project to ex-

plore and implement construction techniques

that tangibly upgrade housing stock in the

city clearly demonstrates that high-quality

building is possible with basic materials.

When people look deep into this form of aca-

demic partnership they will realize what op-

portunities the most common materials offer

by sharing knowledge. For instance, using

lime mixed with cheese (“aybe”) to fix ele-

ments, or employing the benefits of alterna-

tive materials compared to concrete are

some of the innovative ways.

“We have the resources and a proven adapt-

ability, now local businesses should be en-

couraged to produce all the components we

need,” Aknaw says.

The researches and achievements of both

universities have also the potential to inte-

grate participatory design methods and ur-

ban planning in prioritized urban infrastruc-

ture strategies. They offer valuable insights

to strengthen the townscape in this context of

extreme fast urbanization and an enlarged

automotive raster made of large and straight

roads, and flanked by rows of condominiums,

where workplace and living place might get

more and more divided. Firstly it is expected

to be done by demonstrating how long-term

materials can avoid subsequent expendi-

tures, and secondly by showcasing the bene-

fits of planning upfront all the parameters

aside from the building itself (water and elec-

tricity supply, sanitation, roads and side-

walks, transport).

Ethiopia’s development will become even

stronger through a holistic approach with an

interdisciplinary thinking, which has lever-

aged the reputation of the EiABC and the

Bauhaus University of Weimar.

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Continued from page 11

Future-oriented thinking within the

Ethiopian culture

The partnership between both universities

has also laid the foundation for further growth

to shape a positive future.

“We are grateful that Ethiopia offers the

opportunity to take the next step towards

sustainable building within the Ethiopian

culture. We have shared our German

ecological thinking by privileging natural

materials like straw and earth rather than

concrete. And together we can make even

more room for alternative techniques and

concepts like green toilets to produce energy

or car-sharing to save it,” De Vries says.

Indeed the new generation of specialists

educated in Ethiopia is already proving that

the use of local materials helps building in an

architectural qualitative though simple and

hygienic way.

“Sustainable development definitely interests

all the people we meet when implementing

our projects, but there is a need to

communicate more and generate a broader

awareness,” Aknaw says.

Practitioners, researchers, and policymakers

from Europe and Africa will gain deeper

knowledge of these alternatives to current

planning practices in social housing in

Ethiopia and all over Africa from December

15 to 17 at the Goethe-Institute in Addis Abba

during the International Symposium on

Integrated Infrastructure. There they will also

work together on developing ideas through

lectures, workshops, and a panel discussion.

All this augurs a promising future, as

confirmed by the Bronze received by the two

universities for the SICU prototype at the

Holcim Awards 2014 for “Incremental

Construction: Low-cost modular housing

scheme, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia”.

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

Prof. Whasik Min, Dean–

School of Chemical and

Biological Engineering,

AAiT/AAU

Prof. Whasik Min is currently the Dean of

School of Chemical and Bio Engineering at

Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT)

at the Addis Ababa University (AAU). He

holds a Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineer-

ing from University of Texas at Austin. He

was a Professor at Korea University both at

the Department of Chemical and Biological

Engineering and at the Department of Man-

agement of Technology, Graduate School of

Management of Technology before he had

decided to join AAiT.

He has a unique background in that he has

24 years of industrial experience both in the

U.S.A. and in Korea, as well as 8 years of

teaching and research experience in aca-

demia. His main areas of expertise are in

process development, and technology com-

mercialization of chemical products. While

he was working for SK Innovations as a R&D

Director, for example, Prof. Min initiated a

project to develop a high-quality (VHVI) lube

base oil product, which now commands a

roughly 50% market share in the global mar-

ket and constitutes the main product line for

a company with 2 billion dollar sales. He has

a wide spectrum of industrial experience

ranging from laboratory experiments to tech-

nology-based new business development,

and also has hands-on experience in plant

operations, which is highlighted by his partici-

pation in the start-ups of 3 multi-billion dollar

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Continued from page 12

plants.

Prof. Whasik Min and his colleagues at

School of Chemical and Bio Engineering

(SCBE) of AAiT/AAU held “Expo 2015” on the

AAiT campus earlier this year, which is

considered to be a very significant and

historical event - not only for the SCBE

students of AAiT, but for the education of the

engineering students of Federal Democratic

Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE). Total 35 SCBE

students participated in this “projects expo” to

demonstrate their potential as the next-

generation entrepreneurs of this country.

Many dignitaries, including his excellency

Speaker of the FDRE House of Federation

and AAU Supervisory Board Chairman Ato

Kassa Tekleberhan, attended this event,

which further signified the Expo 2015. Dr.

Gerald Heusing of DAAD Ethiopia was also

present during the panel discussion and at

the exhibition site for the student project

deliverables, who was on the site introduced

to the audience of 250 people or so, who

filled the AAiT auditorium. The key themes of

the Expo 2015 are 1) From Lab to Industry, 2)

Rural Industrialization, which are essentially

the keywords for the education of engineering

students, and also the key policy related to

the FDRE industrialization.

Report from a DAAD

scholarship holder

By Daniel Mehabie Mulualem

Academic profile and work experience

I have BEd. in Biology from Bahir Dar

University in 2006 and MSc. in Biotechnology

from the Institute of Biotechnology, Addis

Ababa University, in 2011.

After my First Degree in Biology I have

worked as a biology teacher for three years in

Abyot Kirs Preparatory School.

At present I am a PhD Candidate and

Lecturer at the Institute of Biotechnology,

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

Addis Ababa University (AAU).

PhD research profile

My PhD research focuses to study the micro-

bial diversity and ecology of Ethiopian soda

lakes using Metagenomic technologies. To

pursue my PhD research I have completed

all the course work and defended my PhD

proposal. The Ethiopian soda lakes located

in the rift valley region are characterized by

extremes of alkaline pH and salinity. It has

been indicated that micro organisms inhabit-

ing such kind of extreme environments pre-

sumably exhibit an uncommon biochemical

pathway which enabled them to survive on

this conditions. Hence the main emphasis of

this PhD research will be to study the micro-

bial diversity of these lakes using Meta-

genomic techniques. Metagenomic tech-

niques is a recent culture-independent ap-

proach that has been developed to access

the collective genomes of natural bacterial

populations. The primary goal of this project

will be to exploit the non-cultivated microor-

ganisms of this pristine community and use

them to establish an inventory of alkaline

resistant enzymes that have wide biotechno-

logical applications.

DAAD scholarship

After I completed my course work, I applied

for the prestigious DAAD scholarship: Re-

search Grants Bi-nationally supervised doc-

toral degree scheme in October, 2014. In

the last week of February, 2015, I have re-

ceived an email from the DAAD, which states

the selection committee (Honorary Profes-

sors) have considered my application for the

scholarship. Following final delivery of my

supervisor letter of acceptance, I received

the letter of award from the DAAD.

Since my proposed PhD Research requires

the use of advanced level technologies, such

as whole genome sequencing etc, which is

cost intensive, through the current PhD re-

search funding of Addis Ababa University

undertaking such kind of research will be

Page 14

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Continued from page 13

difficult to achieve. However, through the

funding of DAAD, I obtained the opportunity

to undertake my PhD research with all the

necessary facilities in Germany.

In summary having this prestigious

scholarship will impact my PhD research

significantly, as it will provide me a chance to

work in a well-established laboratory under

the supervision of renowned professor (Prof.

Streit) in Germany. Moreover, not only I will

gain skills and knowledge in Biotechnology

but also I will have the opportunity to learn

many things in a more professional way, in an

international atmosphere.

Daniel Mehabie Mulualem in his laboratory

Post-PhD plan

I will facilitate the transfer and adoption of

proven biotechnological applications with

other Ethiopian fellows. I will continue the

collaboration with my supervisors in Germany

so that we can work on different research

areas which can further contribute in solving

the Ethiopian societal challenges.

I found the DAAD Research Grants: Bi-

nationally Supervised doctoral degree

scholarship very helpful and hence I will

encourage postgraduate students to apply for

this prestigious scholarship. Finally I

appreciate the DAAD for providing such an

opportunity for post graduate students to

undertake their PhD research.

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

Expectations of DAAD

scholarship holder Fan-

os Mekonnen Birke

My Name is Fanos Mekonnen Birke. I am

about to start my PhD work at the University

of Hohenheim at the Institute of Agricultural

Economics and Social Sciences in the Trop-

ics and Subtropics. I am an agricultural ex-

pert by training with over 10 years of experi-

ence in agricultural knowledge management

and extension. I have experience working

with multidisciplinary research and develop-

ment teams in international and national set-

tings on developing and implementing

knowledge management strategies for in-

creased visibility, uptake and use of research

outputs in agriculture. I have worked with the

International Livestock Research Institute

(ILRI) in Addis Ababa for about six years,

mainly focusing on agricultural extension ac-

tivities in Ethiopia.

I first heard about the DAAD scholarship

from friends in Hawassa University (the place

where I did my undergraduate study) and

more information from the DAAD Information

Centre here in Addis. I’m currently taking

online German language course as part of

the preparation for my leave.

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I did not think that online language course

could be so much interesting. Amazingly, I

know so many German words and phrases in

just one month. The teaching strategy is

excellent. My scholarship includes all costs

(travel, living expenses etc) so I am happy

that I only need to focus on my studies

without worrying about covering my

expenses.

I am excited to be in one of the best

Universities that focus on agricultural

development in tropics and sub-tropics and

do a study that will contribute to the

transformation of Ethiopian Agriculture.

Through my research work, I hope to

contribute some alternative policy options to

strengthen the agricultural extension system

and institutional settings in Ethiopia. I do

believe that my stay in Germany would

enable me to gain a wider perspective in

development and also help me establish good

networks which will contribute to my

intellectual and professional growth.

I am a vegetarian and enjoy eating food from

different parts of the world. I’m looking

forward to experiencing German food and

learning how to bake German bread.

In-Country/In-Region

Scholarships 2015/2016

Due to a major boost in the number of

scholarships available for Eastern Africa this

year, DAAD revised its In-Country/In-Region

Scholarship Programme. 36 institutions of

higher education across the region are being

offered individual scholarships for a wide

range of study programmes at Master and

PhD level. You can find the complete list of

institutions here.

With regard to Ethiopia, altogether 84

scholarships have been offered to the

following twelve institutions/courses:

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

Announcements

Adama Science and Technology Uni-

versity - PhD

Addis Ababa Institute of Technology,

Electrical and Computer Engineering

for Railway Systems - Master

Ethiopian Institute of Architecture,

Building Construction and City Devel-

opment - Master and PhD

Mekelle University, Ethiopian Institute

of Technology - Master

Jimma University, Tropical and Infec-

tious Diseases - PhD

University of Gondar, Public Health

Sciences - PhD

Addis Ababa University, Management

- PhD

Addis Ababa University, Earth Scienc-

es - Master and PhD

Addis Ababa University, Microbial,

Cellular and Molecular Biology - Mas-

ter and PhD

Hawassa University, Wondo Genet

College of Forestry and Natural Re-

sources - Master and PhD

International Livestock Research Insti-

tute - PhD

Addis Ababa University, Peace and

Security Studies - PhD

It is now up to potential applicants to seek

information and start the application process.

Kindly note that the application procedure is

being administered by the universities.

Therefore, please get all the necessary appli-

cation information, including the deadlines,

from the institutions.

Please do not apply to DAAD directly!

The scholarships can start from September

2015, depending on the schedule of the re-

spective programme.

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A special offer from

DAAD’s staff: application

training

Since April 17th the staff of the DAAD

Information Centre Ethiopia offers training

sessions on applications for a DAAD

scholarship. It is the aim to encourage people

to apply for a scholarship and to distribute at

the same time tools on how to do so. Topics

such as how to write a good structured CV or

what has to be included in a motivation letter

in order to convince the deciding board are

present at these sessions. Additionally the

possible ways of applying and how to get the

required recommendation letters are spoken

trough and discussed. After the presentation

the participants have the chance to ask

questions.

If you are interested in participating, please

do not hesitate to contact Johanna Teubner

via E-Mail: support@daad-ethiopia.org. The

upcoming dates can be found on our website

www.daad-ethiopia.org.

DAAD Ethiopia goes

Facebook

Since ten weeks the DAAD Information

Centre Ethiopia is offering a page on

facebook to distribute latest information and

tips for events. Information on how to get a

scholarship, how to find the right university

and how to prepare a doctorate and much

more information can be found on our

facebook page.

Visit our facebook webpage and explore

daily the latest news!

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

Call for Application:

“Public Policy and Good

Governance” (PPGG)

DAAD is calling for applicants for Master’s

scholarships. Since 2009, DAAD supports

future leaders who want to promote democ-

racy and social justice in their home coun-

tries. The programme offers the chance to

acquire a Master’s degree in programmes of

particular relevance for the social, political

and economic development in the student’s

country of origin. Highly qualified graduates

with a first academic degree and at least two

years of professional experience are educat-

ed in political science, law, economics and

administration.

The scholarships are awarded for selected

master courses at German institutions of

higher education listed below:

Hertie School of Governance, Berlin -

Master of Public Policy

University of Duisburg-Essen - Master

of Development and Governance

Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at

the University of Erfurt - Master of

Public Policy

Leuphana University Lueneburg -

Public Economics, Law and Politics

University of Applied Sciences

Osnabrueck - Management in Non-

Profit-Organizations

University of Osnabrueck - Master of

Democratic Governance and Public

Policy

University Passau - Master of Govern-

ance and Public Policy

University Potsdam - Master of Public

Management

Applicants have the chance applying to three

universities of their choice. Please find the

current announcement and more information

here.

Application deadline: 31st July 2015

Page 17

newsletter >>>>>>

Development-Related

Postgraduate Courses

(EPOS)

With its development-oriented postgraduate

study programmes, DAAD promotes the

training of specialists. The scholarships offer

graduates from all disciplines and with at

least two years’ professional experience the

chance to take a postgraduate or Master’s

degree at a German university. In exceptional

cases it is also possible to take a doctoral

degree in Germany.

Please find all the individual application

deadlines, information and courses here.

DAAD Information Centre Ethiopia, Edition 04 | June 2015

Contact us

POSTAL ADDRESS

DAAD Information Centre

P.O. Box 32539

Addis Ababa

E-MAIL & PHONE

office@daad-ethiopia.org

+251 (0)939 658882

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WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/

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