{

Cornell Master’s in Integrated Watershed Management at Bahir Dar University

Tammo Steenhuis, Amy Collick,Seifu Tilahun, Essayas Ayana and Alice Pell

Cooperation with Bahir Dar University started in 2003 with an ALO (HED) project “research experience for undergraduates”

Outline and History

In 2006 Bahir Dar President Dr. Tsehai invited us to write grant for the first Master’s program on campus.In 2007 program started

• First Cornell degree outside Ithaca• Best Ethiopian students applied• Twenty students selected in 2007; 14 in 2010• Courses taught in country• Research in country

The original goal:

To train professionals who can help to institute more effective and sustainable watershed management practices.

Major challenges of Partnership

Our current goal: To train a cadre of highly qualified and enthusiastic future professors interested in improving the curriculum, working across disciplines and conducting relevant research

Cornell taught two cohorts of students in Ethiopia courses to expand critical thinking :

Hydrology, Water Supply, Participatory Methods, Economics,

Watershed Modeling , GIS and Writing

Thesis based on new field research

Addressing the challenge

In addition three highly qualified lecturers became PhD students and took in Ithaca 1 year of courses

They are now leaders of Master’s Program

Most students are lecturers at other Universities

Six are in a PhD program in USA , Europe

Integrated Management Programs started at other universities

Eleven refereed manuscripts in international journals, three book chapters and five Ethiopian journal articles

Will start PhD program at Bahir Dar University

Successes & outcomes

And ….

The Cornell President and the US ambassador visited the program

Key ingredients for succeeding

The two Universities need to be committed and provide resources

Administrative flexibility (lots of it).Trust among program leadershipExcellent teachers and students Sufficient funding but not too much.Maintaining local reward system

Lessons learned/challenges in achieving success

Challenges………….

Many!!!

Based on cultural differences

Cornell PhD students/Bahir Dar lecturers arehelping to overcome these challenges

The achievements of the students and their effect on others

Metrics/measurements to gauge both progress and success of outcomes

More information at http://soilandwater.bee.cornell.edu/Research/international/ethiopia.htmGoogle: soil and water Ethiopia