Arsi University continues to expand its international engagement through active participation in key academic and development cooperation events held in Brussels and Leuven in April 2026.
From April 16 to 17, the University participated in the EU-funded Intra-Africa Mobility Coordinators Meeting on Green Transition in Brussels under the MAINSTREAM project (Mobility for Agricultural International Networks Supporting Thematic Resilience and Enhancing Adaptation and Mitigation). The forum focused on aligning higher education with sustainable development priorities, strengthening academic mobility, and enhancing institutional capacity to address climate-related challenges across Africa.
The meeting brought together consortium partners, project coordinators, and academic experts from Africa and Europe under the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme. Discussions were framed within the European Union’s Global Gateway Strategy, with a strong emphasis on advancing the green transition in Africa. Key thematic areas included climate change adaptation and mitigation, sustainable agri-food systems, biodiversity conservation, and the role of higher education in delivering research-driven solutions.
Arsi University was represented by Mr. Sisay Yefru, MAINSTREAM Project Coordinator, who contributed to technical sessions and consortium discussions on academic mobility and research collaboration.
From April 18 to 23, an Arsi University delegation continued engagements at KU Leuven within the TEAM 2024 VLIR-UOS project. Meetings with Mr. Roeland Janssen (VLIR-UOS International Office) and Prof. Maarten Vanierschot (Group T, KU Leuven) focused on reviewing progress and identifying future opportunities for research collaboration, academic exchange, and capacity building.
A key outcome was a shared interest in developing a long-term, 10-year Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) programme to support Arsi University’s transition toward a University of Applied Sciences model.
The delegation was led by Dr. Samuel Mezemir (VLIR-UOS Project Partner Promoter) and included Dr. Meron Regu and Mr. Sisay Yefru, both project members. The visit also featured tours of departments and laboratories at KU Leuven, offering valuable exposure to advanced research and teaching environments.
These engagements reaffirm Arsi University’s commitment to building sustainable international partnerships that advance knowledge exchange, institutional transformation, and global development.