The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) at the University of Toronto and the School of Social Work in the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University (AAU) have been collaborating since October 2019. In October 2019 Professor Faye Mishna and Professor Cheryl Regehr (Vice-President and Provost, University of Toronto) taught a one-week intensive course entitled, “Research Design Lab” attended by faculty members and MSW and PhD students. In response to the course’s success and based on a number of discussions, the FIFSW and the School of Social Work (AAU) agreed to collaborate with respect to 1) teaching; 2) research; and 3) community.
In March 2020, Professor Messay Gebremariam Kotecho, an Associate Professor of Social Work at AAU was a Visiting Professor at the FIFSW. In addition to meeting with students and faculty, Professor Gebremariam presented two talks, “The challenges of Aging in a Developing Nation” and “Social Work Education in Ethiopia”. Both were well received and generated discussion.
Professor Mishna and Professor Regehr co-authored a manuscript with Professor Gebremariam and others, entitled, “Challenges of End Stage Renal Disease Patients in Ethiopia”. The manuscript has been accepted for publication in Health & Social Work.
We have been working with students. Professor Carmen Logie is co-supervisor for 1 PhD student dissertation and professor Mishna is co-supervisor for 2 PhD student dissertations. Professor Logie and Professor Mishna were each external examiner for a PhD Thesis, Final Oral Exam.
