From February 26–28, 2026, Hawassa University conducted a three-day educational technology benchmarking and experience-sharing visit to selected institutions in Addis Ababa. The visit was organized and sponsored by the NURTURE Project (Nurturing SDGs through Higher Education Capacity Building in Ethiopia) and involved Educational Technology and Innovation (EdTI) postgraduate students, program leaders, faculty members, and a student club leader. The total visit participants were fourteen.
Led by Dr. Tesfaye Bayu, the University’s Director of the E-Learning Directorate and NURTURE Project Coordinator, the delegation visited Zeleman Communications, Advertising and Production PLC, Muyalogy Digital Services SC, American College of Technology (ACT), and Sebez System Technology PLC. Each visit provided practical insights into professional educational media production, AI-integrated digital learning systems, and sustainable EdTech and startup models.
At Zeleman, participants learned how high-quality educational content is produced through structured, team-based workflows emphasizing research, storyboarding, and quality assurance. Muyalogy showcased the power of localized, market-driven digital learning—delivering job-ready skills in local languages and leveraging AI for personalized learning pathways. The visit to American College of Technology highlighted comprehensive AI integration in online education, particularly in content development and secure online assessment systems that safeguard academic integrity. Sebez System Technology offered valuable perspectives on entrepreneurship, industry expectations, and the importance of project-based learning and startup culture within university education.
Overall, the visit strengthened participants’ understanding of how universities can align academic programs with industry needs through professional content production, AI-enabled learning, and strong university–industry partnerships. The experience generated actionable insights for Hawassa University in areas such as digital transformation, curriculum innovation, student entrepreneurship, and sustainable collaboration—marking an important step toward advancing technology-enhanced higher education in Ethiopia.
Below you can see some photos from this three-day visit:
It is refreshing to see a university delegation actively engaging with the private sector to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and industry demand. The emphasis on AI-driven assessment and localizing digital content is spot on. This kind of collaboration is a blueprint for the future of EdTech in Ethiopia.
I am truly grateful for the opportunity provided by the NURTURE Project to participate in this valuable experience-sharing visit to Addis Ababa. As a master’s student in Educational Technology and Innovation at Hawassa University, this trip was highly inspiring and transformative for my academic and professional journey.
Visiting Zeleman Communications, Advertising and Production PLC, Muyalogy Digital Services SC, American College of Technology, and Sebez System Technology PLC gave us practical insights that go far beyond classroom theory. At Zeleman, I was impressed by the structured and research-based approach to educational media production. Muyalogy opened my eyes to the power of localized digital learning platforms and AI-supported personalized education. ACT demonstrated how AI can be effectively integrated into online learning systems while maintaining academic integrity. Sebez inspired us with its strong entrepreneurial mindset and emphasis on project-based learning and startup culture.
This visit helped me clearly understand how university programs can align with industry needs, especially in areas of AI integration, digital transformation, and innovation-driven education. The experience strengthened my confidence and expanded my vision for contributing to Ethiopia’s EdTech ecosystem in the future.
I sincerely thank Dr. Tesfaye Bayu, the organizers, and the NURTURE Project team for making this impactful learning experience possible. It was truly a milestone in my professional growth.
It was a great awakening into the amazing progress that’s being done by youth in the EdTech sector. Additionally, the partnerships that’ll be established will be tangibly beneficial to the student community.
Best,
Anteneh Yimmam
Project manager @PCIC
As a Master’s student in the Educational Technology and Innovation (EdTI) program, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the highly successful industry visit organized for our cohort. The field trip provided us with a valuable opportunity to connect theory with real-world practice by visiting four outstanding companies working at the intersection of education, media, and technology. The experience was both inspiring and professionally enriching.
During our visits, we had the privilege of engaging with experts from Zeleman Production (360 Production), Muyalogy, and American College of Technology,sebez system Technology among others. Each organization generously shared practical insights about innovation, digital content creation, entrepreneurship, and the integration of technology into education and industry. The discussions were interactive and transparent, allowing us to ask questions, exchange ideas, and better understand current trends and challenges in the sector.
The visit strengthened our professional vision as future educational technologists and motivated us to think creatively about partnerships, research, and startup initiatives. It was especially encouraging to witness potential collaboration opportunities between industry and academia.
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Tefaye Bayou and NURTURE for organizing such a meaningful and well-coordinated field trip. Their commitment to bridging education and industry is truly commendable. I strongly encourage the continuation of similar industry visits in the future, as they play a vital role in shaping competent, innovative, and industry-ready graduates.
Dagnachew Haile(EdTI Master’s program student)