Consortium Agreement among Universities in the

Amhara National Regional State

Preamble

There are seven universities in the Amhara Region instituted by the Federal government of Ethiopia. All these universities strive to create, preserve and disseminate knowledge through providing quality education and achieving academic excellence, conducting quality basic and problem-solving research, and renderingcommunity services.Besides, they endeavor to respond to the national call for development in training personnel, in research and assisting the community in various dimensions. The universities have undertaken numerous activities towards this end. As our country is pacing forward rapidly in development, it is mandatory for its children (citizens) to exert joint efforts to contribute for the success of its development strides. A lot is expected from the universities since the educated manpower can assist the change and development agenda of the country, and can bring meaningful change and remarkable development the country aspires for. Though the efforts wielded thus far by individual universities werereputable, a joint effort unquestionably escalates the outcomeof the development pursuit.

With this belief, the seven Federal government universities in the Amhara Region have acceded to rally in a Consortium so that they can cooperatively contribute to the country’s call for development. The universities have a strong trust that it is possible to ‘remove the mountain’ of long stayed multifaceted problem our country has experienced with joint exertion. Besides, they were convinced that they should share experiences, support each other in resources such as equipment, materials, laboratory and staff exchange.

Therefore, this Consortium agreement document is developed so that it serves as a guideline for their future joint endeavor in t-Learning, research and community services, which are the pillars of their establishment. The document is signed by the presidents of the seven universities in the Region.

PART I: Names of member universities (in their alphabetical order)

This Consortium agreement is an agreement among the seven universities (referred to as the ‘Parties’ collectively and the ‘Party’ individually hereafter) in the Amhara National Regional State; namely,

  1. Bahir Dar University
  2. Debre Birhan University
  3. Debre Markos University
  4. Debre Tabor University
  5. University of Gondar
  6. Woldiya University
  7. Wollo University

PART II: General Provision

Article 1:Name of Consortium

The Consortium of the seven universities in the Amhara Region is named as “Syndicate of the SevenFederal Government Universities in ANRS”.

Article 2:Vision, mission and motto

Sub-article 1: Vision

The Parties become world-class exemplary syndicate universities in exerting joint efforts (supporting each other) and in the provision of quality education in different fields, conducting basic and problem-solving researchesand rendering community services.

Sub-article 2: Mission

The Parties wield efforts to collaboratively provide quality education, research and community service; and contribute to the local, regional and national development agenda engaging themselves in need-based researches, local, regional, national and international projects.

Sub-article 3: Motto

Together, we can make a difference.

Article 3: Definitions of Terms

Assembly: The Parties’ leaders; i.e. the presidents of the universities.

Consortium: The Parties collectively.

Effective date: The date when all Parties have signed this agreement.

Project: Any relevant local, regional, national or international collaborative activity operated at large scalewith the involvement of member Parties.

Project manager: The person appointed by a Steering Committee to run the day-to-day operation of the project.

PART II:Objectives

Article 4: Objectives of the Consortium

The objectives of the Consortium include:

1.to collaboratively wield efforts and contribute their share in this era of Growth and Transformation our country tags on, and other national development plans;

2.to exert collaborative effort to provide quality education in the universities so that student qualifications can be responsive to Regional and National human resource demands;

3.to solve problems of local, regional and national concerns;

4.to collaboratively research on various issues among themselves and with the Bureaus and development organizations (or associations) in ANRS;

5.to provide broader community services in the Region;

6.to initiate projects jointly that may need to be executed simultaneously at all Parties’ premises; and

7.to review the progress and performance or impact of joint projects together.

Article 5: Partnership Areas

The partnership areas include:

1.Joint needs-based researches and provision of consultancy and training services (community services);

2.Staff and student exchanges,sharing of experiences, and support in various other academic affairs (sharing of resources, such as labs, books and equipment, etc.) among the Parties so as to provide quality education;

3.Joint projects designs to solve local, regional and national problems in varied areas;

4.Participation in local, national and international projects as an association;

5.Developing joint academic forums;

6.Participation in any local, regional and/or national developmentagenda as an association; and

7.Joint strategy development for industry-university link.

Article 6: Duties and Responsibilities of the Parties

The parties shall have the following duties and responsibilities. The Parties:

  1. shall update the areas of partnership so as to render services to the community as an association;
  2. need to participate in all the partnership areas;
  3. shall assign representatives for committee establishment when needed;
  4. have the obligation to pay membership fees as determined by the Assembly;
  5. shall share resources among themselves;
  6. shall nominate staffs who engage in researches, projects and community service endeavors as per the required field of specialization; and
  7. shall perform other duties as may be given by the Lead Institution, by the Assembly, or as may be required by ANRS.

PART III: Organization and Management of Consortium

Article 7: The Assembly

The Assembly shall constitute leaders ofthe Parties (i.e. the Presidents of the universities), or their representatives.

Article 8: Duties and Responsibilities of the Assembly

The Assembly, as a decision-making body, shall have the following duties and responsibilities. It

  1. shall fix meeting programmes;
  2. decides on Consortium activities, prioritizes, and approves execution of joint researches and community services;
  3. approves budget for projects and initiatives;
  4. assigns authorities to sign on Consortium checks besides those stated in this document;
  5. updates the partnership areas in which the Parties can take part;
  6. devises other working documents as deemed necessary;
  7. devises monitoring and evaluation strategies for effective and efficient utilization of resources (fund and other resources);
  8. establishes partnershipwith HEIs in Ethiopia and abroad so that joint research ventures and projects can be held;
  9. hears progress reports of ongoing works and final reports of works done;
  10. suggests committee formations for various activities of the Consortium and approves committee members selected by the Parties; and
  11. executes other duties and shoulders responsibilities as may be given by the Lead Institution or as may be decided by itself.

Article 9: Lead Institution

The Parties haveunanimously selectedBahir Dar Universityto be the Lead Institution for three years beginning from the date this agreement was signed. The Assembly authorizes the Lead Institution as their agent to sign agreements in their names and on their behalf in relation to collaborative projects.

Article 10: Election of Lead Institution

The presidents of the Parties (The Assembly) shall nominate the Lead Institution following democratic procedures. The President or the representative of the Lead Institution shall be the Leader of the Consortium.

Article 11: Term of the Lead Institution

The term of the Lead Institution shall be three years. The Lead Institution can be re-elected for consecutive terms; however, it can be re-elected for the successive term only once.The next Lead Institution shall be elected a month before the termination of the term of the past Lead Institution so that the old and the new share experiences and gap may not affect duties.

Article 12:The Duties and Responsibilities of the Lead Institution

The President of the Lead Institution

  1. presides the Assembly;
  2. is accountable to the Assembly;
  3. opens and maintains a dedicated bank account for the benefit of the Parties and the use of projects;
  4. signs contracts on behalf of the Parties in relation to joint projects; and
  5. monitors and controls the performance of project leaders.

Article 13: Secretary of the Consortium

The Secretary of the Consortium shall be nominated by the Assembly. However, he/she should be elected from the Lead Institution for administrative reasons. Nomination of Secretary shall be in force only until a permanent Secretary is hired by the Assembly.

Article 14: Duties and Responsibilities of Secretary

The duties and responsibilities of the Secretary include the following. The Secretary:

  1. presides the Assembly in absence of the Leader;
  2. shall take minutes, and keep records;
  3. is responsible for the documentation of Consortium engagements (community service, research, etc.)
  4. shall be one of the authorities who signs Consortium checks; and
  5. shall accomplish other duties and shoulder responsibilities as may be assigned by the Leader or the Assembly.

Article 15: Date of Assembly

The Assembly shall meet once in three months. However, urgent meetings may be held when deemed necessary.

Article 16: Budget of the Consortium

The Parties shall contribute money for running projects and other Consortium activities stated in Article 8 and membership fees stated in Article 6. The Assembly shall decide on the amount each party should contribute.

Article 17: Project Management

Projects shall be managed by a selected staff (or staffs) by the Consortium Assembly, and his/ her term as well as benefits shall be determined by the Assembly.The Assembly decides on the project fund if the project fund is obtained from the Parties. Fund obtained from other sources

shall be used for the project it is allocated to. The manager of the project is responsible for the project resources.

Article 18: Project Resources

Project fund can be obtained from abroad, the Parties, ANRS Bureaus and other sources.

Article 19: Fund for joint academic forums,academic support, and joint community services.

The sources of fund for joint academic forums, experience sharing among the Parties, and community services shall be the Parties, ANRS bureaus, and/or other partners in Ethiopia and abroad. Expenditure for some specific activities shall be accomplished as indicated hereunder.

1.Joint academic forums shall take place in turns as may be decided by the Assembly. The Party that hosts the forum shall be responsible for all the expenses of the participants. Participants in joint academic forums shall be determined by the Assembly.

2.The Party that demands academic support from another Party or Parties shall be responsible for the expenses of the staffs in support.

Article 20: Other Stakeholders Joining the Consortium

Other stakeholders from the business area, government and non-government organizations, development associations, etc. can apply for membership through the Lead Institution. The application shall be examined by the Assemblyfor approval. A by-law shall be developed for the duties and responsibilities as well as the status of the members accepted to join the Consortium.

PART IV:Commencement, Amendmentand Termination of Consortium Agreement

Article 21: Commencement of Agreement

The Consortium shall be effective from November 11, 2012 (Hidar 2, 2005 E.C.) onwards.

Article 22: Amendment of Consortium Agreement

This Consortium Agreement Document shall be revised or improvedany time the Assembly is convinced that some changes should be made. Request for revision or amendment may be initiated by any member Party or Parties.

Article 23: Termination of Consortium Agreement

The Consortium Agreement shall be in force for five years, but may be renewed with the consent of the member Parties (the Assembly).

Names of Presidents and their Signatures

No. / Name / University / Signature
1 / Dr. Bayilie Damtie / Bahir Dar University
2 / Ato Getachew Tefera / Debre Birhan University
3 / Ato Yilkal Kefale / Debre Markos University
4 / Dr. Alemayehu Kebede / Debre Tabor University
5 / Prof. Mengesha Admasu / University of Gondar
6 / Prof. Yalew Endawok / Woldiya University
7 / Dr. Assefa Balcha / Wollo University

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