EU-Funded ASAF Forum Unites Stakeholders to Transform African Higher Education
The African Students and Alumni Forum (ASAF), in collaboration with the University of Gondar, hosted a high-impact training and networking event on May 15–16, 2025. Funded by the European Union, the forum brought together education experts, policymakers, and institutional leaders to help shape the future of higher education in Africa.
Held under the theme “Collaboration in Action: Alumni and Stakeholders Shaping the Future of Higher Education,” the event fostered dynamic dialogue on strengthening EU–Africa education partnerships. A key focus of the discussions was the need for sustainable funding mechanisms in African higher education—an issue addressed in a keynote presentation by Dr. Adugna Abebe, a faculty member at the University of Gondar. His analysis of innovative institutional financing models was widely praised as one of the forum’s most valuable contributions.
Mr. Yenesew Alene, ASAF’s Ethiopian Ambassador and Project Leader, emphasized the forum’s practical outcomes: “Participants gain actionable strategies for university–industry collaboration, strengthened professional networks, and a renewed commitment to collaborative EU–Africa education initiatives.”
The University of Gondar’s role as host added historical significance to the event, coinciding with the 70th year anniversary of the University of Gondar and the 100th year anniversary of its University Teaching Specialized Hospital. This collaboration highlighted how African universities can drive regional transformation through strategic partnerships.
ASAF, supported by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme and managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), continues to serve as a vital platform connecting African students and professionals who have benefited from EU mobility programs. The organization remains at the forefront of capacity building, knowledge exchange, and policy development in African higher education.
This EU-supported dialogue has planted seeds for transformative change, Mr. Yenesew concluded. “The solutions co-created here will reverberate across African campuses for years to come.”
The event concluded with a formal certification ceremony, recognizing the active involvement and commitment of all participants.
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Public Relations Directorate
May 19, 2025
