Addis Ababa University is to become an associate member of the association of French Speaking Universities. Jeilu Oumer (PhD), Academic Vice President of Addis Ababa University, received Mr. Herve Sabourin, Regional Director of French Speaking Universities of the Middle East, at his office on February 10, 2016 to discuss the requirement and benefits of the membership.

Addis Ababa University is currently running a French language program at graduate and undergraduate level. This enables the university to become associate member of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF).

Networking and cooperating with AUF has immense advantages in order to get access to relevant materials and scholarship opportunities to the staff and graduates of the department.

During the meeting, Mr. Herve Sabourin stated that the AAU would be granted funds for research and different publications along with scholarship opportunities for masters and PhD programs, if the University was to become member of the AUF. He further pointed out the move would allow professors come to the AAU for supervision.

Dr. Jeilu for his part noted that the move would support the translation program for French speakers in Ethiopia which is the seat of the African Union, the Economic Commission for Africa, many French speaking embassies, nongovernmental organizations and investors.

Higher learning institutions are nowadays drastically strengthening their collaboration to work with one another on their mutual interests, share resources and exchange experiences. This trend significantly helps students and other academia access various electronic resources, enhance academic excellence and get scholarship opportunities.