University Of Leicester Helps To Develop Research Capacity In Ethiopia

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Medical Students / Training;  Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 01 Oct 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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A joint project between the University of Leicester and Gondar University in Ethiopia is helping to build the research capacity in Ethiopian universities.

The project - supported by the GENIE Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), Department of Genetics, University of Leicester - has evolved from a long-standing link between health professionals in Leicester and Gondar University established by Professor Mike Silverman.

According to Professor Annette Cashmore, the Director of the GENIE CETL, 'This project is incredibly exciting for the staff and students involved. It will facilitate student exchanges with the University of Gondar and further strengthen links between the two institutions.'

The first Ethiopian researchers arrived in Leicester in early September. They are Baye Gelaw (working with Professor Mike Barer in Infection, Immunity and Inflammation), Kassahun Tegegne (with Dr Abbi Kedir in Economics and Professor Liz Draper in Health Sciences) and Worku Negash (with Professor Pat Heslop-Harrison in Biology). They will stay in Leicester until Christmas in order to establish their research projects, and then continue their work in Gondar collaborating with academics both in the UK and Ethiopia.

The three visitors are members of the academic staff of Gondar University, and it is anticipated/expected that experience they will gain in Leicester will allow them to become research leaders within their disciplines in Ethiopia.

The Link between the University of Leicester and Gondar University was formally established three years ago, and is strongly supported by both universities. Over the last 12 months, 16 senior academic and administrative staff from Gondar have visited Leicester, to learn how a British University works. Several groups from Leicester have visited Gondar during the same period, to run courses, carry out joint research programmes and to teach on postgraduate courses.

For more information on the Leicester-Gondar link, click here.

UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER
- A member of the 1994 Group of universities that share a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience.

-- Ranked second to Cambridge for student satisfaction amongst full time students taught at mainstream universities in England
-- Ranked as a Top 20 university by the Sunday Times, Guardian,Times and UK Complete University Guide, published in The Independent
-- One of just 23 UK universities to feature in world's top 200- Shanghai Jiao Tong International Index, 2005-08.
-- Ranked in top 200 world universities by the Times Higher
-- Shortlisted University of the Year by the Times Higher (2008, 2006, 2005) and The Sunday Times (2007)
-- Ranked top 10 in England for research impact by The Guardian
-- Students' Union of the Year award 2005, short listed 2006 and 2007

Founded in 1921, the University of Leicester has 19,000 students from 136 countries. Teaching in 18 subject areas has been graded Excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency- including 14 successive scores - a consistent run of success matched by just one other UK University. Leicester is world renowned for the invention of DNA Fingerprinting by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and houses Europe's biggest academic Space Research Centre. 90% of staff are actively engaged in high quality research and 13 subject areas have been awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level. The University's research grant income places it among the top 20 UK research universities. The University employs over 3,000 people, has an annual turnover of over £200m, covers an estate of 94 hectares and is engaged in a £300m investment programme- among the biggest of any UK university.

http://www.le.ac.uk

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