PhD programme at the Mekane-Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa officially launched

When the ELM's Ethiopia officer, Gabriele De Bona, describes the ambience in which she witnessed the inauguration of the dissertation programme (PhD programme) of the Mekane-Yesus Seminary (MYS) in Addis Ababa, she almost goes into raptures: "The ceremony took place in a beautiful, large, wood-panelled hall with a podium and large screen and modern technical equipment in the MYS building, which is just two years old. There is also a restaurant and a roof terrace with a view of the city and the surrounding mountains. You can also see what a green oasis the MYS is in the middle of the capital's concrete jungle. There is already a kindergarten on campus for students' children. Sports facilities and a swimming pool are under construction. All around you walk through green areas with well-tended flower beds. The technology at the event was state of the art, more modern than ours," reports De Bona, visibly impressed.

She had accepted the invitation of the partner church to the inauguration of the PhD programme, which is co-financed by the ELM. The Mekane-Yesus Seminary is the theological university of the Mekane-Yesus Church. Until three years ago, it was possible to obtain a Master of Arts degree here; three years ago, the programme was expanded to include a postgraduate course leading to a Master of Theology. This brought Dr Bruk Ayele, the director of the seminary, a step closer to his next goal of being able to train employees with a doctorate for theological training or higher administrative positions.

With immediate effect, the MYS can now offer the complete theology degree programme, including a doctorate. The PhD programme is led by Yacob Godebo. The ELM is already funding the scholarships for the Master's programme and is also planning to award scholarships for the PhD programme. "Of the ten graduates of the Master's programme, the top four were women. These are women who really performed well," reports De Bona. One of them worked for the church in the field of women's work, is involved in gender issues and had previously written her Master's thesis on genital mutilation. She was very impressed by how a theological training centre founded by foreign missionaries had developed into an independent institution with its own Ethiopian lecturers that provides well-trained theologians. And which is now also likely to attract students from abroad. "It's incredible what they have achieved here," says Gabriele De Bona happily, adding: "We are a small part of it, but one that has had a big impact."