The Ethiopian Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Network in North America is an informal network of academics and professionals of Ethiopian heritage and other friends of Ethiopia in the United States and Canada.
The objective of the group is to help applied science and engineering education and practice in Ethiopia through teaching, sharing research and development experience, and gathering material and financial resources.
Early on the following modes of involvement were identified for professionals based in North America to support mainly Science and Technology institutions in Ethiopia by providing:
- Short stay for guest lecturing
- Spending sabbaticals or similarly long terms in home institutions
- Permanent employment
- Adjunct faculty positions
- Teaching classes online (videos, forums for discussion, short visits when needed/possible)
- Running workshops aimed at students and/or local faculty – research results, teaching methodologies, best practices from academia and industry
- Carrying out joint research with home faculty
- Supervising (alone or jointly) graduate thesis
- Helping with resources – books, lecture notes, digital libraries, content management systems, laboratory, teaching aids, software etc
- Advocacy and fund raising
While the group was established as a grass root network of professionals interested in giving back to the homeland, it has gradually established strong working relationships with the Adama and Addis Ababa Science and Technology Universities, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ethiopian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York City.