51³Ô¹ÏÍø

51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT welcomes first visiting professor from Africa for a month-long academic engagement   

Nov 19 2025

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for International Affairs (OVCIA), in partnership with the Department of Biological Sciences of the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM), welcomed Dr. Beira H. Meressa as 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT’s first visiting professor from Africa on November 14, 2025. He is currently a professor and the director of Research and Laboratory Facilities of Jimma University, Ethiopia.

Funded by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (Germany), Dr. Meressa’s month-long engagement not only strengthened academic linkages but also elevated scientific learning and research collaboration within the institute. His visit aligned with 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT’s immediate goal of expanding its international engagement, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Dr. Meressa delivered a series of lectures and laboratory classes for both graduate and undergraduate students of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT. He also participated in a scientific forum on nematodes and their role in plant systems. In addition to delivering scientific talks at CSM, he shared broader perspectives with students from the College of Arts and Sciences through this forum, “Ethiopia: A forum of Culture and Tourism,” where he highlighted his country’s rich historical landscape, resilience, and cultural identity. Furthermore, he actively took part in attending scientific meetings among various research groups to strengthen research cooperation and contributed to the formulation of project proposals for foreign funding.

Aside from his engagements at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT, Dr. Meressa has also been visiting selected universities in Region X to deliver talks and engage in academic dialogues, as part of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø-IIT’s commitment to fostering academic and research cooperation among higher education institutions (HEIs).

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