GE, Addis Ababa Institute of Technology Sign a MoU to enable Renewables Generation, Skills Development in Ethiopia

GE and Addis Ababa Institute of Technology have signed a MoU to enable Renewables Hydro/Wind Power Generation Skills Development in Ethiopia.

The ultimate vision of the collaboration between GE and AAIT is to develop a Renewables – Center of Excellence at AAIT to serve as a practical learning hub for undergraduate students in the Ethiopia University system, a research incubator for graduate students and a reinforcing learning mechanism for faculty

General Electric GE Renewable Energy and Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to frame an ongoing collaboration aimed at enabling capacity development programs focused on Renewable Energy.

Since late 2016 GE and AAiT have been working together to develop and start the implementation of skills development programs. In March 2017, GE Renewable Energy Hydro engineering staff spent the week at AAiT delivering a series of seminars to 30 students and faculty on Hydro turbines and generators technology.

“Collaboration with Industry is a key facet of exchange for AAIT and essential to addressing the need of students to be exposed to practical and thoughtful learning experiences while also ensuring the teachers are given access to the latest in the field of knowledge,” says Addis Ababa University President, Professor Admasu.

GE Renewable Energy is actively participating to the delivery of the projects of the high-priority Growth and Transformation Plan projects in Ethiopia, including in the Hydro sector, and is working with Ethiopian Electric Power to develop new projects in the Hydro, Wind and Solar space. AAIT is the premier Engineering and Research institution in Ethiopia graduating engineers in over 7 undergraduate programs and 35 MSc. and PhD programs.

“The MoU with AAiT is a new milestone for GE Renewable Energy in Ethiopia. It enables sharing current industry expertise and experience with students and faculty at AAiT in order to build a highly-qualified workforce that will support the social and economic development of the country,” GE’s Hydro Solutions President and CEO,Yves Rannou said.

The ultimate vision of the collaboration between GE and AAIT is to develop a Renewables – Center of Excellence at AAIT to serve as a practical learning hub for undergraduate students in the Ethiopia University system, a research incubator for graduate students and a reinforcing learning mechanism for faculty. AAIT and GE will work together to build an ecosystem of enablers from development agencies, Renewables industry players and partners.

During the MOU signing ceremony, leaders from the two institutions shared remarks to the gathered dignitaries.