University education in Ethiopia has been a luxury that only the wealthy could afford. For the average Ethiopian, who lives on just £1 per day, university education has never been possible.

The inadequate university infrastructure has meant that many students (with the means to pay) have been forced to go abroad to complete their qualifications. They often do not return to Ethiopia, so valuable skills and expertise are lost.

Ethiopiaid has been working with HOPE Enterprises, an Ethiopian NGO, to revolutionise education in Ethiopia, since 1994. Through education, the underlying causes of problems currently being faced in Ethiopia can be tackled by giving people the knowledge and expertise needed to work themselves out of poverty.

HOPE Enterprises was granted permission by the Ministry of Education to construct a new university in Addis Ababa, to train leaders of tomorrow. On November 25, 2003, HOPE University College was established as the first public benefit institution of higher learning in Ethiopia. The city government of Addis Ababa leased HOPE Enterprises five hectares of land to build the University College.

Cornerstone

A Dutch charity, Woord & Daad, agreed to fund a third of the costs of constructing and equipping of HOPE University College. Ethiopiaid pledged £1,105,000 - the majority of the remaining funds needed. As a result, Ethiopiaid was made the principal sponsor of HOPE University College.

A Centre of Excellence

To support the proper formulation and execution of the academic plan and construction of the College, an educational and construction consortium were set up in November 2004. Abba Architects, a local architectural firm of outstanding reputation, was appointed to draw the detailed plans, help in the election of a building contractor and supervise the construction.

New Buildings

As the first public benefit and liberal arts, co-educational College in Ethiopia and in the rest of the Horn of Africa, the University College plans to start classes in September 2009. The University College will have 1,500 students at full occupancy with the students being selected on the basis of need and academic qualification from within Ethiopia and the various countries of the rest of the Horn of Africa. The University College will pursue affirmative action, with regard to the enrolment of women, in order to raise their involvement in leadership positions. The University is designed to attract the top talent from all over Ethiopia, regardless of wealth or background, and will be a valuable resource for progress and enterprise.

Training Leaders of Tomorrow

The creation of the HOPE University College will open up higher education for thousands of Ethiopians. People won't need money to learn, just the desire to better themselves. Talent and intellect will be nurtured and leaders of the future will emerge, ready to take on the challenges their country faces.

"The foundation of every state is the education of its youth". Diogenes Laertius