Paper short abstract:

This paper aims to assess the reciprocal learning process and benefits gained from a partnership between the University of Gondar and Queen's University, to achieve their overarching goals of producing next-generation leaders and particular focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities

Paper long abstract:

Under the Mastercard Foundation's umbrella, the University of Gondar, Ethiopia and Queen's University, Canada partnered to harness the opportunity to advance their shared vision of empowering young people with disabilities. Besides sharing experiences and lessons on administrative and academic affairs, the two institutions are conceptualizing and working towards bringing institutional changes that benefit Scholars with disabilities.

This paper aims to assess the reciprocal learning process and the benefits gained from the partnership between the University of Gondar and Queen's University, to achieve their overarching goals of producing next-generation leaders and positively impacting institutions and societal systems.

The partnership between the University of Gondar and Queen's University, supported by Mastercard Foundation, exemplifies innovative strategies to advance collaborations between institutions of higher education for mutual benefit and learning. Through this partnership, 60 Gondar faculty (at Queen's) and 450 East African youth, talented but socioeconomically disadvantaged and living with disabilities (at Gondar), will have earned their third, second and first degrees by 2026. Through the reciprocal partnership, Queen's University also benefits from joint research, which enhances knowledge sharing, cultural practices, and various collaborative initiatives in research and the academia.

The partnership promotes inclusive education, institutional learning, project management and institutional capacity building. In the near future, the partnership will launch the first ever Occupational Therapy degree program in Ethiopia, Community-Based Rehabilitation Certificate Program and enhance numerous research collaborations. Differences in institutional culture, reporting changes and working across different time-zones were some of the challenges for management and administration.