Exploring PhD initiatives: Ethiopia’s Superstars Project and South Africa’s Presidential Programme
February 2026 - Ethiopia and South-Africa are strengthening their PhD programmes. Ethiopia will present their international training programme designed to strengthen the PhD supervision across universities. South Africa will explore possible links, overlaps, and differences with their initiative.
The Ethiopian Superstars project is a VLIRUOS international training programme designed to strengthen the PhD supervision across universities in Ethiopia. The programme was developed over three consecutive stages: in the first stage, an existing PhD supervision training at Ghent University was piloted with the project members. In the second stage, a train-of-trainer programme was developed to support 14 Ethiopian Superstars and to further adjust training material to the Ethiopian context. In the final stage, these 14 trainers are delivering training to PhD supervisors across 7 universities in Ethiopia.
In this Community Talk, an update on the programme will be provided, followed by a reflection on the key challenges and opportunities it presents.
Additionally, the South African Presidential PhD Programme will be presented, exploring possible links, overlaps, and differences between the two initiatives.
Speakers
- Teklu Gemechu, Jimma University
- Melisew Dejene Lemma, Hawassa University
- Achamyelesh, Hawassa University
- A representative of the Embassy of the Republic South Africa