The NPT-programme finances co-operation between developing countries and Dutch experts and is managed by the Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for international co-operation in higher education.
Jon File is one of the researchers from CHEPS who will travel to Addis Ababa. 'The Ethiopian government needs help in setting up an Ethiopian Higher Educational Strategy Institute.'
For File, who has a great deal of experience in projects in South-Africa and Mozambique, this is something completely different. 'In Pretoria and Maputo we mostly aim for organisational reform and management development. In Ethiopia we are involved in setting up a new organisation that should then play a key-role in the development of the higher education system.'
File explains that there are six universities, fourteen colleges, and 37 private higher education institutes in Ethiopia. 'But these do not form a cohesive system.'
Initially CHEPS has six months to get EHESI off the ground. File: 'Of course not everything is operational after that time. We have to make sure that in six months there is a clear organisational structure, a strategic plan, a list of priorities, and trained staff. And perhaps the Ethiopian government will request more assistance afterwards.'
