Haramaya University Hosts Workshop on Advanced eLearning and Digital Transformation in African Universities
The workshop aimed to equip academic institutions with the necessary tools and strategies to enhance educational practices and foster innovation throughout the continent.
The four-day workshop titled “Advanced eLearning and Digital Transformation in African Higher Education” will take place from February 11 to February 14, 2025. This event will bring together educators, IT professionals, and university leaders from across Africa to discuss strategies for improving teaching and learning through digital transformation.
Professor Mengistu Urge, Vice President for Academic Affairs, provided an overview of Haramaya University’s history and its wide range of academic offerings. The university offers 72 undergraduate programs, 37 master’s and advanced master’s programs, six medical specialty programs, three sub-specialties, and 46 PhD programs across nine colleges, one institute, and one academy. Professor Mengistu emphasized the university’s shift towards institutional autonomy and underscored the importance and timeliness of e-learning training for both Haramaya University and other institutions across Africa.
Dr. Jemal Yousuf, the President of Haramaya University, emphasizes the strategic importance of digital transformation in higher education. He highlighted the strengthening partnership between Haramaya University and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Nigeria, noting that the recent workshop builds on previous collaborations, including an Advanced eLearning Training held in Addis Ababa last year.
He emphasized the formalization of this partnership with a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the establishment of a joint Steering Committee dedicated to securing funding for digital initiatives.
Dr. Jemal emphasized the urgent need for digital transformation in higher education, stating, “Higher education is at a crossroads. Traditional models are rapidly evolving, and digitalization is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. eLearning, artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making, and IT-enabled education ecosystems are shaping the future of our institutions.” He highlighted that universities must strategically integrate emerging technologies into their teaching, research, and institutional development to remain competitive.
The workshop aims to provide practical training for faculty and IT administrators in several key areas, including high-availability Moodle deployment, Office 365 integration, interactive content development, and IT service management. Dr. Jemal encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and to foster long-term collaborations.
Dr. Milkyas Hailu, ICT Director of Haramaya University, emphasized the workshop’s mission: “We are gathered here today with a common goal-to explore the latest advancements, challenges, and best practices in eLearning and digital transformation within higher education. Over the next few days, we will participate in in-depth technical sessions, hands-on training, and strategic discussions that will enable us to improve our institutions’ digital learning environments.”
Haramaya University’s initiative highlights its dedication to driving digital transformation in African higher education through collaborative innovation and capacity building.
Reporter: Shemsedin Mohammad
Photo: Tewdros Lishan
Haramaya University Public and International Relations Directorate