On January 27, 2026, the official kick-off of the Erasmus+ Greening Ethiopia project took place in Addis Ababa, strengthening Ethiopian universities in transitioning to a climate-resilient green economy, with a focus on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, governance, curriculum innovation, applied research, and knowledge transfer along with community and industry engagement.

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy), a key partner alongside Maastricht School of Management – Maastricht University (Netherlands, lead), International Hellenic University (Greece), and four Ethiopian universities (Haramaya, Assosa, Mekelle, Bahir Dar), actively contributed to the event through the presence of Dr. Maura Calliera and Prof. Nicoleta Suciu.

In particular, Nicoleta Suciu emphasized in the panel discussion the importance of aligning research, policy, and industry needs, integrating practical internships into curricula, and ensuring quality monitoring.

The event included opening remarks from the Ethiopian Ministry of Education and university leaders, presentation of the seven work packages for institutional sustainability, and reflections on synergies with national strategies (Climate Resilient Green Economy) and European ones (Global Gateway).

Working sessions continued over the following two days (January 28-29) for concrete planning. The project lasts 48 months (starting January 2026) and is co-funded by the EU.