Ethiopia's Oldest University Partners with BRICS Media

A historic Ethiopian university is opening new doors for its students to share their research and culture with the world.

The University of Gondar, founded in 1954 as Ethiopia's first public health college, has partnered with TV BRICS International Media Network. The agreement will help the university's 48,000 students gain international visibility for their academic work and showcase Ethiopia's rich cultural heritage to audiences across Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and beyond.

University President Asrat Atsedeweyn and TV BRICS CEO Janna Tolstikova signed the partnership agreement this month. It marks Ethiopia's first university collaboration with the expanding BRICS+ media network.

The partnership will focus on joint media projects, cultural events, and expert exchanges between universities. Students and faculty will have new platforms to present research findings and creative work to international audiences.

"This positions the University of Gondar within a broader international communication network," said Solomon Girma, the university's Director of International Relations. The partnership gives students access to media tools and audiences they've never had before.

Betegele Tebelu, who leads the Department of Theatre Arts, sees special opportunities for creative students. "We are fostering an essential intercultural dialogue that empowers our students and elevates our indigenous narratives on the world stage," he explained.

The university offers 87 undergraduate programs, 227 master's programs, and 82 doctoral programs across multiple colleges. Now those programs will have direct channels to share discoveries and innovations with partner institutions worldwide.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership is part of a growing movement to connect educational institutions across the Global South. TV BRICS now works with more than 30 universities and education ministries from nine countries, including Russia, Brazil, India, China, Cuba, Iran, and Nepal.

The network specifically focuses on the UN's goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education worldwide. By creating direct media connections between universities, students in developing nations can bypass traditional gatekeepers and share their work directly with global audiences.

For Ethiopian students, this means their research on public health, their innovations in science, and their creative works in theatre and arts will reach audiences in some of the world's most populous nations. It's a two-way exchange that brings fresh perspectives and collaboration opportunities to all participating schools.

New partnerships are launching throughout 2026, expanding opportunities for students and researchers across the BRICS+ network to learn from each other.