Admission: 2016 Spring ITTP Ph.D. Program

Affiliation: Ethiopian Civil (Public) Service Commission

Position : Commissioner

“I would love to express how much I miss the efficient transportation system, fastest internet service, the food, the time discipline, Taekwondo exercises and also especially the subway services. How I wish we could replicate this in my country!!“

The close ties between Korea and Ethiopia date back to 1951 when the Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie, decided to send thousands of troops to fight as part of the American-led UN force supporting South Korea for then war. The troops were called the Kagnew battalions and were drawn from Haile Selassie's Imperial Bodyguard - Ethiopia's elite troops. They were 3,158 with three battalion fought 253 battles, more than 120 were killed, more than 500 were wounded but no Ethiopian soldier was taken prisoner in the Korean War. The troops were the best fighters. On the bases of the profound relationship, recently, Ethiopia, which regards South Korea as its role model for economic development, signed a MOU for close cooperation in the science and technology field in 2011.

Korea Institute of Science and Technology-KAIST (Information and Telecommunication Technology Program-ITTP) is getting globalized and working hard to recruit more foreign talented students besides domestic talents. Due to this initiative students from diverse countries are joining KAIST. Ethiopia as a country that has fraternal relationship with Korea is one of the countries enjoying the opportunity. There have been a number of high talented Ethiopian students joining KAIST the new millennium. As one of them who enjoyed the opportunity, I am honored being alumni of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Information and Telecommunication Technology Program) that provides R&D collaborating with the industry research and development projects of practical applications. I (former minister of Ethiopian Urban Development and Construction Ministry) was enrolled primarily as the Ph.D. candidate of Business and Technology School, latter discussing with Professor Rho, Jae Jeung decided to change the department to Information and Telecommunications Technology Program which is more practical research related to the industry. It was really wonderful and valid decision. Thank you, Professor Rho!

While I was staying four years in Korea from September 2016 to September 2020, KAIST-ITTP’s graduate fellow and I learned a lot including knowledge, attitude change, physical exercises (Taekwondo) and best practical lessons from the industry. However, not forgetting the tough lectures, exams, presentations, paper writing, and others. For me, the chance to study in Korea was a remarkable. Professor Kwon, Youngsun was academically serious advisor on the quality of research which demanded me to publish as graduation requirement in the impact journal. Fortunately, I had successfully fulfilled the publications requirement such as “Differentiating mobile broadband policies across diffusion stages: A panel data analysis,” “Developing a tailored strategy for mobile applications’ adoption across diffusion levels: A panel data analysis,” and [KOREA Report II] “National Policy Transition in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: Responding to Grand Challenges” (Developing ICT Policy for Fighting COVID-19 in Africa: Collaboration Opportunity from South Korea's Best Practices) published in high impact journals as per his expected level of quality and really proud of my professors. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for Professor Kwon!

When I returned home after graduation from Korea in September 2020, I was appointed as Ethiopian Policy Studies and Research Institute Chief Executive Director which is the national think-tank until last month October 2021. Then Since October 2021, I have been assigned to be Ethiopian Public Service Commission Commissioner (parallel to ministerial position) which is accountable to the Ethiopian Prime Minister. The role and responsibility of the commission is very big which is leading the Ethiopian public servants, their number is more than three million. I am trying to apply and practice what I have learned in KAIST-ITTP, previously in Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute and now Ethiopia Civil (Public) Service Commission. If not for this chance given to me by KAIST-ITTP, I would not have these practical experiences of living and learning in South Korea from which I learned a lot and scaling it up today. While I was in the Policy Studies Institute, I initiated to establish new center of Information and Telecommunications Technology research and policy studies center from the experience of KAIST and tried to reform the Institute including implementing its office remodeling with significant investment. I will continue to initiate new projects in my recent office, too.

Though it was demanding workload and requirements of the courses, and the field trips organized by the University, it paid me today for practical implementation experiences (that I love to call the miracle of Han River best practices) and gave the opportunity to be appointed to higher office in my country. Aside from the education and practical experiences, I missed my university professors (Kwon, Rho, Jang, Chun…), ITTP staff members, and friends. I would love to express how much I miss the efficient transportation system, fastest internet service, the food, the time discipline, Taekwondo exercises and also especially the subway services. How I wish we could replicate this in my country!!

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to KAIST-ITTP, my professors, and friends making me to love Korea (my adopted country), enjoying studying there and to depart Korea with a sense of belonging and attachment that will be engraved in my heart and mind forever. Finally, let me say thank you for all what you did for your students and myself Professor Rho and Professor Chun! I really enjoyed ITTP Program. I am very thankful for the passionate professors! Job well done for ITTP’s wonderful 16th anniversary celebration and commemoration! I want to say CONGRATULATIONS!