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UM, Ethiopian school to become partners
By the Missoulian

The University of Montana will expand its international reach this week when president George Dennison signs an agreement with Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia.

The partnership with one of Africa's top universities will establish new avenues for faculty research and exchanges, student exchanges, and joint conferences and publications.

“It has been our dream to have a major institutional partnership with a prominent African university and a new opening with a very important African country with a long history and rich culture,” associate provost for international programs Mehrdad Kia said. “Ethiopia presents all of those opportunities.”

Tsige Gebremariam Woldemariam, the vice president for graduate studies and research at Addis Ababa University, and Dennison will sign the agreement during a weeklong visit of Ethiopian administrators, beginning Monday.

Joining Woldemariam will be Yacob Arsano Atito, dean of the College of Social Sciences; Afework Bekele Simegn, dean of the Faculty of Science; and Damen Haile Mariam Gebre Kiros, associate dean for graduate studies and research in the Faculty of Medicine.

They will give a public presentation about Ethiopia and their university at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the old Journalism Building, Room 303.
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Eyob wrote on May 11, 2009 2:05 AM:

" It is nice to see a dream came true for the University of Montana, but the timing is very inappropriate. Namely, at the time of concluding this deal a lot otherwise minded Ethiopians are rounded up and put into jail by the regime http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/ethiopia-government-must-reveal-fate-political-prisoners-20090505+. First, I hope that president George Dennison would postpone the signing of this agreement. Secondly, The University of Montana should have in mind, at all times, that it is going to operate under the dictatorial regime of Meles Zenawi. Finally, I hope the partnership will contribute to the long sought political freedom by the silent majority of the Ethiopian population. "

Imam wrote on May 12, 2009 6:23 PM:

" This is a welcome opportunity, for Ethiopians, suspending educational cooperation on the part of UM is not a useful means of promoting freedom and justice. I believe engagement and academic/cultural exchange are more powerful forces. "

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