(March 20/2017) The Ministry of Education signed a memorandum of understanding with two international partners, Dezim and Soli*City.

The State Minister of Higher Education, Honorable Ato Kora Tushune, stated during the agreement that higher education institutions should conduct scientific research on migration and migration and generate ideas that can be used as policy inputs.

He pointed out that one of the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) recently signed with universities by the Ministry of Education is the fact that universities are fulfilling their social responsibility by preventing human trafficking and illegal migration.

He said that universities in areas where the problem is particularly noticeable are expected to conduct in-depth research to support and advance the government’s policy measures to reduce the problem.

The Honorable Minister of State indicated that the financial support received under the Memorandum of Understanding signed with international institutions such as Diesel and Solicity will provide the institutions with the opportunity to conduct better research.

The Acting Executive Director of the Research and Community Development Department of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Serawit Handiso, for his part, said that there is a wide gap in terms of solving the problems of migration and asylum through research.

Therefore, higher education institutions should examine themselves, generate impactful information supported by research, expand it to other institutions, and work together to solve the problem with accountability and responsibility, Dr. Serawit added.

Professor Harald Bauder, who signed the MoU on behalf of Solicit, said the collaboration would help to understand migration through the Horn of Africa, develop evidence-based policies and support vulnerable refugees and migrants.

Dr. Noah K. Ha, Scientific Director of the German Center for Integration and Migration Studies (DeZIM), said the agreement would enable his institution to work together with the Ministry of Education and university research institutes on migration and asylum.

The signing ceremony was attended by vice presidents of research from seven universities working on migration, the Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders.