Prof. Stijn Coenen, President of Thomas More University of Applied Sciences and Portfolio Holder for Policy Group of Internationalization of the KU Leuven Association paid visit to Mekelle University today 06 February 2024. He was welcomed by the top management and senior staff members of Mekelle University.

Dr. Fana Hagos, President of Mekelle University, warmly welcomed Prof. Stijn and appreciated the longstanding and mutually beneficial partnerships between MU and many Belgian Universities including TM.

In the occasion, Dr. Eyasu Yazew presented in detail the longstanding bilateral relationship between TM and MU in student and staff exchange, student boot camp, innovative curriculum and entrepreneurial skills development. He also explained the fundraising effort for Ayder Hospital and the other multifaceted collaborations over the last 15 years.
The prospects of future collaborations to Build Back Better Mekelle University including global engagement activities, research collaborations, staff and student mobility, and innovative academic programs were discussed by the participants.
In his final remarks, Prof. Stijn Coenen said he will work to further strengthen the bilateral collaboration between MU and TM Universities, and highlighted potential prospects of partnership to reinforce the bilateral collaboration.
In her final statement, Dr. Fana Hagos, also thanked Prof. Stijn for his visit at this critical time of rebuilding Mekelle University and called on the support of TM University in reinitiating VLIR/IUC bilateral cooperation and designing new potential partnerships in research, capacity building and community services.