BY MESERET BEHAILU
ADDIS ABABA—The government of China has provided a total of 116 Ethiopian students with scholarship awards to attend education in various fields during this Ethiopian fiscal year. Speaking at the Ethiopia–China Friendship Scholar Award Ceremony held on Tuesday, Addis Ababa University (AAU) President Prof. Tassew Woldehanna said that AAU is one of the higher institutions in Ethiopia that has been supporting students in need of support.
He, thus, said that the award is the agreement of AAU and Chinas embassy in Addis Ababa, and it is significantly useful in boosting the bilateral relationship of the two countries. According to the president, out of the total of 116 students who have obtained the scholar award, 80 of them are under graduates, 12 senior projects, 6 PhD research scholarships, and the remained 18 students are attending education in Chinese language both in undergraduate and post graduate levels. Of this, the PhD scholar award has shared huge amount of money (70,000 Birr per head).
“Addis Ababa Institute of Technology students’ project scholarship allocated around 240,000 Birr and provided to 12 students. The scholarship award support will play a decisive role in promoting academic excellence. In terms of money, over 2,000,000 Birr is allocated to support students.” Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Ethiopia, DCM/ Minister Council, Shen Qinmin on his part said that the two countries have historical relationship.
Qinmin said that Chinese government has always been a supporter of education and the scholarship will further build firm friendship between the two peoples. “We continue the support of learning and research of the students. I hope the friendship of the two countries and the exchanging of academic and research institutions will continue.”
One of the scholarship recipient and PhD student who is working in Business Leadership, Betelehem Fikru on her part said, “I am very humble to be speaking on the students behave who obtained this golden opportunity. It has been conducting a lot of research in African continent and the research has shown that lack of adequate funding is the serious problems in that regard. Therefore, this scholarship award is instrumental in bringing significant outcomes especially supporting students who are in need of economic support. ”
THE ETHIOPIAN THURSDAY 9 MARCH 2023
