MOPEDE is turned on
The Capacity Building for Modernizing TVET Pedagogy in Ethiopia (MOPEDE) – project’s official opening event was held online on 26. January 2021. Over 50 representatives from partners and cooperatives in Ethiopia and Finland attended the event. Experts from Finnish partner universities JAMK and Centria, Federal TVET Institute and its Satellite colleges, Federal TVET Agency, Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE), and Addis Ababa University (AAU) were present, including guests from other collaborating and stakeholder organizations.
In the opening words Mr. Teshale Berecha, Director General of FTI, highlighted the importance of capacity building for distance work and education within digital tools and platforms. We need to challenge ourselves frequently for finding accessible ways to work, teach and study.
Rector, Dr. Jussi Halttunen, from JAMK University of Applied Sciences, remarked the long lasting multilevel partnership between JAMK and FTI through the years and commitment to collaborative learning in pedagogical development.
President, CEO Dr. Kari Ristimäki, from Centria University of Applied Sciences, raised up the meaning of the international co-operation between the Higher Education Institutions. He pointed out too, that the education field is now very multidisciplinary and challenges us all to learn new, creative methods to work every day. Overall facts about the project including its objectives, outcomes and outputs were presented by the Local Project Coordinator ICT Director, Mr. Matiyas Teshome.
On behalf of Finnish Government, Senior Specialist Mrs. Piia Korpinen (Embassy of Finland) raised up the significance of inclusion concerning gender and disabilities issues. Key issues for development are to ensure access for e-learning for all VET teachers and students. How could we encourage and participate women and girls for technology and teaching through student center pedagogy and make study resources available to all students including inclusivity. Deputy Director Mr. Haftom Gebregziabher (FTI) gave us the vision for the future by summing up the discussions and concluded the event.
The competence creation for student center pedagogy in e-learning started among 20 teachers and technical supportive staff of FTI and satellite colleges in February. Beside the competence creation e-learning facilities and supportive services are planned and developed to improve the quality and accessibility of e-learning for teachers and students around Ethiopia.
Opening Seminar Program Jan 26th 2021 (pdf)
Author: Pauliina Silvennoinen, JAMK
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Capacity Building for Modernizing TVET Pedagogy in Ethiopia is a four-year project with implementation duration from September 2020 to August 2024. The three higher education institutions, Federal TVET Institute from Ethiopia, JAMK University of Applied Sciences (JAMK) and Centria University of Applied Sciences (Centria) both from Finland are partners on the project. This HEI-ICI funded project aims to improve the accessibility and quality of vocational teacher education in Ethiopia. It will modernize TVET pedagogy using e-learning as blended approach. The project is coordinated by JAMK University of Applied Sciences.
The Higher Education Institutions Institutional Cooperation Instrument (HEI ICI) supports cooperation projects between higher education institutions in Finland and the developing world. All the projects support the HEIs as they develop their subject-specific, methodological, educational and administrative capacity. The programme is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and administered by the Finnish National Agency for Education.
