Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) Conducted Stockholders Validation Workshop on the BDU-Horticulture Department Support Program
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) Conducted Stockholders Validation Workshop for the Upcoming 10th Years BDU-Horticulture Department Support Program
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Its recalled that the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) and BDU has agreed and signed a high level MoU by June 2022 to lay the foundation for establishment of cooperative partnership between Bahir Dar University (BDU) and the Agriculture team within the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the aim of contributing for horticulture sector development in the region as well as at a country level through conducting collaborative activities. The agreed and signed area of collaborations include strengthening Horticulture program of the university through capacity building (scholarships), providing tailor-made and Cross cutting skill trainings and others with the aim contributing to better match the competencies of the students to the labor market in the horticulture sector in Ethiopia.
According to Tadele Yeshiwas, the BDU_KNE partnership program initiator and focal person, after signing of the MoU, by January 2022 a team of experts from KNE and Netherlands Ministry of Finance, Education, and Agriculture conducted a scoping mission and held a round table discussion with Bahir Dar University higher officials, and Agriculture college dean and program representative with the aim to understand the challenges, opportunities and potential solutions on the current education systems by hoping that the scoping mission experts from the Netherlands will contribute to the development of a country specific education development plan for the next 10 years. The program will be supported by the Dutch government to enable Technical support of Vocational and Higher education in Ethiopia, known in Dutch as the Beroeps & Hoger Onderwijs (BHO) Program.
Accordingly, based on the scoping mission study result, the KNE has conducted the feasibility study of the program through the assigned external consultant (Impact for Sustainability Consulting Service PLC) to identify key players in the TVT and Higher Education ecosystem in Ethiopia, and know their role and the challenges they face in providing students with the right skills to successfully engage in the horticultural labor market. The aim of the study was to lay the foundation for the design of a 10 years capacity development program that supports the identified TVT and Higher Education actors and other key partners and stakeholders to prepare the students with employability skills as demanded by the horticultural labor market. The ultimate goal of the study was to contribute to the increased production and availability of vegetables and fruits in the market in order to improve the food and nutrition security situation across Ethiopia. Thus, today, January 15/2024, KNE organized a round table discussion workshop at Bahir Dar University with the presence of key horticulture sector stakeholders, KNE teams, Bahir Dar University higher officials, Dean of College of Agriculture and Horticulture and department staff. The aim of this workshop includes presenting the findings of the feasibility study, collect feedbacks and participants’ insights into the feasibility of some of the recommendations and proposed entry points for the upcoming 10 years EKN program. Furthermore, the discussion will provide a chance for stakeholders and other round table participants to share with KNE what potential role they could have inside the upcoming 10 years program.
https://www.agroberichtenbuitenland.nl/landeninformatie/ethiopie
