GILDE, Belgium-based, a nonprofit organization is offering financial support for less affluent female engineering students who are committed to scoring high academic achievement but in difficult financial constraints.
Upon the agreement signed between Gilde Van Ambachten en Neringen Van Leuven and Addis Ababa Science and Technology University; the launching ceremony of the financial support took place in AASTU on February 2, 2022, where 40 affluent female students are planned to be addressed in the program for this year. The financial aid is effective for three consecutive years to the students who have successfully completed their first year with high academic achievement.
In the opening ceremony, Dr. Dereje Engida, President of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, highlighted the benefits that the students would gain from such a partnership. The president stressed, “You will be happy that you will benefit from sponsorship. Money is one of them. It is good if we use it properly, but if we do not, it will lead to negative consequences. You are entrusted with your university and sponsorship, and I beg you to become a good example of students with your achievements and role model for other female students. We also claim that we will be able to track the success of your education with this money.” In his speech, Dr. Dereje highly appreciated and made a tribute to the former university president, Dr. Tarekegn Tadesse, for his tireless work in connecting the donor organization with AASTU and Johan De Graeve for their financial support program for 40 less affluent AASTU female engineering and science students.
Similarly, Dr. Tarekegn Tadesse on the occasion explained that Gilde Van Ambachten en Neringen Van Leuvenis the International Engineering Academy, which is the number one university in Science and Engineering in Belgium. This academy has worked with our university for 10 years. The program will continue for the upcoming two years and will provide 25 euros per month for each new affluent female student selected within the university. As a step forward for the next two academic years, 40 new less affluent female students will be selected before the start of each of the two academic years, and the support continues until the end of their study under the name of Johan De Graeve-support program for Female Engineering Students. This financial support will help female students to achieve high scores in their academic careers. Moreover, According to Dr. Tarekegn, this academy has been working with AASTU by providing postgraduate scholarships for ten years. In his final remarks, Dr. Tarkegn Tadesse conveyed a congratulatory message to those who got the financial aid
Finally, in the closing remark, Dr. Tarekegn Birehanu, Addis Ababa Science and Technology university academic affairs vice president conveyed his deepest thanks to Dr. Tarkegn Tadesse for his unlimited support and Gilde Van Ambachten en Neringen Van Leuven for their priceless contributions and for supporting financially exposed high caliber female students.
In the launching program, Dr. Dereje Engida, President of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, top management members of AASTU, selected female students as well as invited guests were in attendance at the ceremony.
