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Ethiopia-Michigan Collaborative Consortium


The University of Michigan has a deep and multifaceted relationship with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. U-M faculty and students engage with diverse stakeholders across the country, from ministry officials and national funding agencies to universities and non-governmental organizations. Our work involves faculty members, researchers, and students from many disciplines and extends beyond academia through community–based research, patient care, service learning, scholarship, and research.

The Michigan-Ethiopia collaboration is a central example of how U-M serves both “the people of Michigan and the world and develops leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.”  

The Third Annual EMC2 Conference

July 11-14, 2017
The Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre and Network
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia


Registration is now closed.

This event will provide opportunities for U-M faculty and students and faculty and student partners in Ethiopia to develop interactions in an open and welcoming environment. Attendees will be able to meet with their collaborators to strengthen relationships, or to meet new partners to build new connections. We will discuss the achievements and challenges of ongoing collaborative work between Ethiopian and University of Michigan (U-M) colleagues, and develop new insights into Ethiopia and its future.

For full program details, download a pdf here »

Schedule of Events

4:30pm » Welcome Reception
American-style BBQ celebration for all registered conference attendees.

9:00am » Welcome Remarks

Professor ADMASU TSEGAYE, President, Addis Ababa University;
and Dr. MARK SCHLISSEL, President, University of Michigan (Video)

9:30am » Keynote Addresses “How the Future is Grounded in the Past” 

H.E. Professor YIFRU BERHAN MITKE, Minister of Health, Federal Republic of Ethiopia; and H.E. Dr.-Ing. GETAHUN MEKURIA, Minister of Science and Technology, Federal Republic of Ethiopia

10:45am  » Panel “Defining Ethiopia’s Priorities and Needs for the Future: Ethiopian Perspective, Needs, and Offerings”

Panelists: Dr. ZERIHUN ABEBE, Provost, St. Paul Millenium Hospital; AHMED HASSEN, Director, Institute of Ethiopian Studies; Professor ESAYAS GEBREYOHANNES, Scientific Director, AAiT; and DESALEGNE MENGESHA, President, University of Gondar

Moderator: Professor JAMES HOLLOWAY, Vice Provost of Global Engagement, University of Michigan

12:00pm » Lunch and group discussions on “Defining the Future”

2:00pm » Discussion groups 

3:00pm » Lightening Talks: “Reflecting on the Past, Defining the Future”

Facilitator: AMY CONGER, Assistant Vice Provost of Global Engagement, University of Michigan

  1. Exhibiting Ethiopia: Opportunities and Challenges
    AHMED ZEKARIA, Chief Curator, Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University;
    RAYMOND SILVERMAN, Professor, History of Art, African Studies, and Museum Studies, University of Michigan

  2. CIRHT: Past and Future
    LIA TADESSE GEBREMEDHIN, Program Director, Center for International Reproductive Health Training, University of Michigan;
    MENGISTU H. DAMTEW, In-country Program Director, CIRHT-Ethiopia

  3. Postpartum Family Planning Utilization and Determinants in Addis Ababa
    JESSICA MILNE, Health Behavior and Health Education MPH Program, University of Michigan;
    ALULA TEKLU, Research Coordinator, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Innovation Fund

  4. Evaluating Impacts of Large-Scale Land Transactions on Socio-Ecological Land Systems in Ethiopia
    ALEMAYEHU AYANA, Research Director, Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute;
    DAN BROWN, Professor and Interim Dean, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan

  5. Experiences Starting and Maintaining International Collaborations between U-M and AAiT
    TODD AUSTIN, Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan;
    FITSUM ANDARGIE, Professor & Chair of Computer Engineering, AAiT

  6. Evaluating Perceptions of Vaccine Necessity in Health Centers in Addis Ababa
    NINA MASTERS, Global Health Epidemiology MPH Program, University of Michigan;
    YEMISRACH ABEJE, Lecturer in Public Health, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College

9:00am » Local visits with collaborators in Ethiopia

3:30pm » Guided tour at the National Museum of Ethiopia  

6:00pm » Conference dinner at Lucy Restaurant 

9:00am » Panel discussions, presentations w/ breakout sessions

2:00pm » “Getting to Know You” group event  

4:00pm » Conference summary and closing remarks

In partnership with the following institutions: Addis Ababa University; Ethiopian Public Health Institute; St. Paul’s Millennium Medical College; University of Gondar; University of Axum