The British Embassy in Addis Ababa has hosted an event for Cranfield University's alumni in Ethiopia.
The alumni group comprised military officers and government officials from across East Africa, including many Ethiopians, who have completed an executive master's programme in Security Sector Management. The master's has been delivered by Cranfield in Addis Ababa since 2007.
The event brought together former students of the University and academic speakers. They shared experiences and enjoyed healthy debate and discussion.
Professor Ron Matthews, a world leading security and development economist, and Ian Westerman, Cranfield University academic spoke on ‘Defence Economics in Developmental States' and 'Challenging Huntingtonian Thinking: Alternative Civil–Military Relations and Successful Defence Transformations', respectively.
Defence Attaché Col. Matt Munro said: "I am delighted to be hosting Cranfield University alumni today here at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia is one of the UK’s strategic partners in global peace and security. We have been, and are keen to continue, helping improve the capacity of our partners. I believe this event will help Cranfield alumni in Ethiopia gain insights from well known experts in the area."
Ann Fitz-Gerald, Cranfield Professor of Security Sector Management, said: “We at Cranfield University owe much to the Federal Government of Ethiopia for hosting the delivery of our course over the years it has run in Addis Ababa. Our alumni from Ethiopia and other countries in the region fill important and influential posts helping to deliver peace, security and good management practice in support of their national, regional and African goals – goals that are shared by the British Embassy here, whose support for the day has been brilliant.”
The UK has long supported Ethiopia’s peacekeeping capability through the Peace Support Training Centre (PSTC), based in Addis Ababa. The Government and Cranfield University's joint work will help strengthen UN and AU peace operations both in the Horn and globally.
Notes for editors
The Cranfield University courses help individuals to acquire and apply skills and knowledge to past and present challenges in a range of transitional societies. In addition to exploring the critical linkage between the security, development and management disciplines, the course provides a strong foundation for translating policy into effective programmes and plans.
About Cranfield University
Cranfield University is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management.
