For the forth-consecutive year, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Gondar continues to educate one of the countries disenfranchised and disadvantaged communities. The Scholars Program at UoG, which has ties with the Mastercard Foundation and Queens University Canada, launched in 2017.

Now again in the 2020/2021 academic year the Scholars Program at the University of Gondar is recruiting new Scholars who will be some of the continents competent and hard working individuals. 

During the recruitment process, applicants from many of Ethiopia’s neighboring nations have applied. Through various vetting procedures, the program has narrowed the batch down to a few short listed candidates. From the large pool of initial applicants, 8 have been chosen for interviews. Moreover, applicants from Djibouti and Somalia have been interviewed (three being male and five being female).

This year the recruitment process was slightly modified because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. In previous years, program team members would go to four neighboring countries to have face-to-face interviews with the applicants. Recently though a team comprising of Program A Manager, Dr. Mikyas Abera, and Postgraduate Coordinator, Mr. Nega Mihret held virtual conferences with potential applicants to vet top candidates. Online platforms such as Zoom and WhatsApp were used to speak to the candidates and to ask some of the questions necessary for admission. Partner organizations also had their representatives present to help with the selection process.  

Barring any further delays, the international Scholars are set to begin their education this fall. Moreover, without a doubt, they will join numerous scholars who are already making a sizable impact in their lives and in the lives of people in their communities.