Stardom University, a US-based digital higher education institution, is expanding its academic cooperation in Ethiopia through agreements with five universities and specialised initiatives targeting digital education, scientific research, scholarships and professional training.
The university has signed memoranda of understanding with Jigjiga University, Werabe University, Unity University, Imamu Al Shafi University and New Generation University College in Addis Ababa.
The partnerships are intended to strengthen academic programme development, promote scientific research and support the adoption of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in higher education.
The university has also established separate cooperation frameworks with the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council and the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA), focusing on Arabic language education, scholarship opportunities and specialised diplomatic training.
Under the agreements with Ethiopian universities, the institutions plan to explore joint academic programmes, organise conferences and workshops, encourage scholarly publications, and exchange academic expertise.
The cooperation will also cover emerging fields, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as institutional capacity building, quality assurance and academic governance.
Stardom University said implementation activities, responsibilities, resources and necessary approvals would be determined through separate action plans and agreements with its Ethiopian partners.
As part of its cooperation with the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, the university is planning a scholarship initiative covering three academic pathways: Arabic language courses for non-native speakers, bachelor’s degree programmes in Arabic Language and Literature, & bachelor’s degree programmes in Islamic Studies.
The Supreme Council is expected to facilitate the initiative by promoting the opportunities, coordinating nominations & supporting applicants, while Stardom University will retain responsibility for admissions, academic programmes, teaching, examinations and the awarding of qualifications.
Admission will depend on academic qualifications, documentation, available places and applicable regulatory requirements.
Meanwhile, the proposed partnership with the Institute of Foreign Affairs will focus on Arabic language training and professional development for Ethiopian diplomats and foreign affairs professionals.
The training areas are expected to include diplomatic Arabic, official correspondence, international relations terminology, report writing, negotiation, diplomatic protocol and political and economic developments in the Arab world.
Founded in the United States in 2022, Stardom University operates primarily through an online higher education model, offering academic programmes to students in different geographical locations.
According to its institutional information, the university comprises seven academic colleges and offers 134 programmes at bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and higher diploma levels.
Its academic fields include business administration, information technology, computer science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, education, law, media, Islamic studies and languages.
The university reports having more than 100 faculty and academic staff members and approximately 1,000 learners and beneficiaries representing 24 nationalities across four continents.
Its digital education infrastructure includes learning management systems, virtual classrooms, online examination monitoring and student information management platforms.
The university also operates six multidisciplinary academic journals covering natural and engineering sciences, legal and political studies, humanities and social sciences, economics and administration, Islamic studies, and education and psychology.
