Collaboration Expands with New University Partner in Africa
Kigali, Rwanda & Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—Carnegie Mellon University Africa has announced a significant milestone with the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) forming a partnership with its tenth member, Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology (AASTU). Since its launch in 2022, Afretec has aimed to foster collaboration among Africa’s technology-focused universities, driving digital innovation, facilitating technology development, creating opportunities for youth, and influencing policy change.
Widespread Representation Across the Continent
The Afretec Network spans the African continent, encompassing partners from North, South, East, West, and Central Africa. Existing members include notable institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University of Africa (Rwanda), Agostinho Neto University (Angola), Al Akhawein University (Morocco), the American University in Cairo (Egypt), Sheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal), University of Lagos (Nigeria), University of Nairobi (Kenya), University of Rwanda, and the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), alongside the newly added Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology (Ethiopia).
Emphasizing a Collaborative Model
Tim Brown, Interim Director of Carnegie Mellon’s Africa School, expressed pride in welcoming Addis Ababa University as the latest member of the Afretec network. He highlighted the network’s foundation on collaboration, stressing the value of diverse perspectives from partners in rapidly growing digital economies and policy development throughout Africa.
Driving Sustainable Growth and Change
Afretec is dedicated to building ecosystems that foster long-term and sustainable economic growth across the continent. Since its inception, the network has allocated approximately $7.43 million in research funding to support various initiatives. Currently, it oversees more than 40 research projects that aim to elevate African studies through publications in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.
Empowering Education and Entrepreneurship
Through its Afretec Bridge program, the network prepares students for graduate studies, reaching over 2,000 undergraduate participants to date. The program has also provided training for around 500 teachers on essential topics, including proposal writing, AI in education, and addressing pedagogical challenges. Furthermore, Afretec has established a TechSkills Marketplace program that formalizes a strategic relationship between academia and startups, enabling students to acquire entrepreneurship skills in a practical setting.
AASTU’s Role in Ethiopia’s Educational Landscape
Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology, founded in 2011, is a key player in Ethiopia’s vision for industrialization, innovation, and STEM education. Situated in the southeastern district of Kirinto, it has emerged as the nation’s leading center for industrial and pharmaceutical studies while serving as a hub for science, technology, research, and innovation.
Afretec: A Pan-African Initiative
The African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) represents a collaborative effort among technology-focused universities across Africa, spearheaded by Carnegie Mellon University Africa School. This initiative aims to propel the continent’s digital transformation. For more information, visit www.afretec.org.
About Carnegie Mellon University Africa
Founded in 2011 through a partnership between Carnegie Mellon University and the Government of Rwanda, Carnegie Mellon University Africa is the only U.S. research institution with a full-time faculty and staff base offering master’s degrees on the continent. The institute focuses on addressing the critical shortage of high-quality engineering talent necessary for accelerating Africa’s economic transformation. To learn more about engineering programs in Africa, visit www.africa.engineering.cmu.edu.
