The Texas Tech University (TTU) is running an interdisciplinary project with the Jimma Institute of Technology (JiT), Ethiopia, to increase the number of lecturers with doctorate degrees in Ethiopia. The team from TTU has been qualified as the only American team to be awarded a massive international grant, funded by the German government and managed by Ministry of education in collaboration with the British Council and German Development Cooperation (GIZ), to increase engineering programs in Ethiopia. The grant aims to focus on global community and concentrates on civil engineering and construction technology as core topics.

Starting on July 1, until September 27, 2017, 15 doctoral candidates out of this project have been guest researchers at the University of Bremen, hosted by BIBA - Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH. During their stay, they passed their proposal defense under the supervision of 10 American professors and a representative of the Ethopian Jimma University. Furthermore, the doctoral candidates visited several labs, construction site and received a lot of academic input. Please, find their program here.

Starting on March 16, 2018 a second group of doctoral candidates out of this project were guest researchers at the University of Bremen. The group was hosted by BIBA - Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH and was integrated into the doctoral training group of the IGS. During their 3-month stay, the Ethiopian lecturers visited some scientific labs as well as construction sites in the North of Germany. INROS LACKNER SE provided access to real world facilities.

The Ethiopian guests took part in a research seminar provided by Prof. Dave Louis, TTU. The seminar was held in Bremen and open for all doctoral candidates of the IGS and LogDynamics. Thus, an interdisciplinary and multicultural exchange has been initiated by the IGS to transfer the experience of 15 years of convergence education.

LogDynamics and the TTU signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2019. Prof. Ekwaro-Osire visited Bremen in March 2019 talking on Convergence Research and Education and agreeing further exchange of professors and students.

: Prof. Ekwaro-Osire visited in March 2019 LogDynamics and the International Office of the University of Bremen

: Ethiopian participants of the research seminar "Proposal Writing, Professional Presentations and Publications" held by Prof. Dave Louis, TTU, in May 2018, together with the project Prof. Ekwaro-Osire

: Prof. Ekware-Osire with the next group of Ethiopian doctoral candidates in March 2018

: Arrival of the group of doctoral candidates from Ethiopian with their TTU project leader in July 2017

: Lecture on structuring the PhD proposal given by Dr. Louis, Department of Educational Psychology & Leadership, TTU, in Bremen

: The first week of PhD proposal defenses took part with the supervisors from TTU and an observer from JiT

: In the second week of the PhD proposal defenses some further supervisors from TTU and the observer from JiT were in Bremen

Supervising Professors

Stephen Ekwaro-Osire, PhD, PE Project leader Professor of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
Esayas Alemayehu, Prof., Dr.-Ing. Representative Professor of Environmental Engineering Scientific V/Director School of Civil & Environmental Engineering Jimma Institute of Technology (JiT) Jimma University Jimma, Ethiopia
Dave A. Louis, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Higher Education (Profile) Department of Educational Psychology & Leadership Texas Tech University College of Education Lubbock, Texas
Annette Hernandez, Ph.D. Advisor Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Associate Professor Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
Job Samuel Kasule, Ph.D. Scientific coordinator of the PhD program in Ethiopia
Mukaddes Darwish, Ph.D. Advisor Associate Professor Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
Priyantha Jayawickrama, Ph.D. Advisor Associate Professor Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
Sanjaya Senadheera, Ph.D. Advisor Associate Professor and Director, TechMRT Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
Tewodros Ghebrab, Ph.D. Advisor Assistant Professor, Graduate Advisor for the Construction Majors Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
Venkatesh Uddameri, Ph.D. Advisor Professor and Director, Water Resources Center Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
Ali Nejat, Ph.D. Advisor Associate Professor Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas
Rui Guo, Ph.D. Advisor Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas

TTU PhD SummerCamp in Bremen