Ethiopian institute signs MoU with GE Renewable Energy

19 May 2017

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

GE and AAIT team witnessing the MoU signing. Standing (L-R): Andres Isaza, VP and chief commercial officer - GE Renewable Energy; Dr Esayas Gebreyouhannes, executive director Addis Ababa University - Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAIT); Deo Onyango - GE Hydro, SSA regional executive; Daniel Hailu - CEO GE Ethiopia. Seated (R-L): Dr Admasu Tsegaye - president, Addis Ababa University; and Yves Rannou VP and CEO, Hydro GE Renewable Energy.

Since late 2016, GE and AAiT have been working together to develop and start the implementation of skills development programmes. 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.

GE Renewable Energy is actively participating in the delivery of 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 an engineering and research institution in Ethiopia graduating engineers in over seven undergraduate programs and 35 MSc and PhD programmes.

Developing a centre of excellence

The ultimate vision of the collaboration between GE and AAIT is to develop a renewables centre 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.

Professor Admasu Tsegaye, Addis Ababa University president said, “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.”