ITEGE Project - An academic partnership for the development of geothermal energy

Ethiopia has one of Africa’s largest geothermal potentials, concentrated along the East African Rift Valley. This renewable resource can be used to generate electricity, but also for building heating, agricultural greenhouses, certain industrial processes, and aquaculture. The Ethiopian government has made geothermal energy a priority in order to diversify the country’s energy mix, which is currently heavily dependent on hydropower, whose generation is vulnerable to droughts. Ethiopia plans to develop up to 5 GW of geothermal capacity by 2045.

However, this ambition is constrained by a shortage of local expertise, particularly in geothermal exploration, an essential stage for identifying resources, reducing drilling-related risks, and ensuring sustainable development. Training specialists is therefore a key lever for meeting the growing needs of public institutions, businesses, and research organizations.

The ITEGE project aims to strengthen and develop a professionally oriented, attractive and inclusive bachelor’s, master’s and PhD pathway at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU), in order to train geothermal exploration specialists who can contribute to the development of this energy source in Ethiopia. The initiative is based on collaboration between partner higher education and research institutions and the private sector.

Its main priorities are to:

• Adapt the existing Bachelor’s degree in Geosciences to include a specialization in geothermal exploration
• Create a Master’s degree dedicated to geothermal exploration and support the development of a Master’s degree in Geothermal Engineering at AASTU
• Support doctoral training and develop joint PhD supervision arrangements between partner institutions
• Develop a continuing education offer for professionals in the sector
• Strengthen AASTU’s teaching and research capacities through faculty training, the development of digital resources, laboratory equipment, and the modernization of teaching facilities
• Promote student, doctoral student and faculty mobility between Ethiopia and France to strengthen skills, scientific collaboration, and the internationalization of academic programs
• Strengthen links between the university and socio-economic stakeholders to facilitate graduate employability, particularly among young women
• Promote gender equality and improve female students’ access to training and careers in the geothermal sector

This project was selected for the third edition of the Academia Partnerships Africa-France program (PeA). The PeA is financed by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) via the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which oversees the program. It is implemented, with support from the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE), by the French National Research Agency (ANR) on project evaluation and monitoring, and Campus France on events management.

• Approximately 50 students will be enrolled each year in the bachelor’s and master’s programs
• Approximately 50 professionals will receive training each year through continuing education and dedicated training modules
• 9 doctoral students will have received funding to complete their PhD theses

ITEGE contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 7 (Affordable     and Clean Energy), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).