The Biomedical Engineering for Jimma (bejim) project is a collaboration between Jimma University, represented by the Institute of Health with its Jimma University Medical Center and the School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the Jimma Institute of Technology (JIT), and Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (HSA) with the Biomedical Engineering Program at the Department of Electrical, Mechanica
l and Industrial Engineering. program in Biomedical Engineering (BME) ten years ago and recently implemented a Master’s program. These programs have been critically reflected upon by the SBME, with the following goals for the future.
• „Integrate additional practical training in design and innovation throughout the
curriculum, especially in collaboration with the newly outfitted Jimma University
Specialized Hospital
• Continue to expand relationships with industry, government, clinical, and other academic partners for increased participation in experimental learning (e.g. internship, study abroad) and placement opportunities, as well as support for entrepreneurial activities
• Expand the national and international presence of our program through quality research, capable alumni, and international partnerships.
• Provide a fully functional prototype laboratory for developing medical devices
appropriate in the context of Ethiopian healthcare.“
Under the proposed project, the School of Biomedical Engineering at the Jimma Institute of Technology will be advised by Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (HSA) on the redesign of the curriculum towards an application-oriented bachelor’s degree program in biomedical engineering. The program will be designed in line with the accredited program at HSA and will follow German quality standards while taking local needs into account. Anhalt University of Applied Sciences will support JIT in the first semesters of the new degree program with regular on-site consultations in planning, implementation and teaching until the School of Biomedical Engineering has built up its own capacities. This capacity will be generated through individual training of biomedical engineers at HSA. The medium-term goal is to establish the program as a double-degree program between JIT and HSA. Two graduate students, one doctoral student and five faculty members from Jimma will visit or get to know the BME program at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in order to gain experience in internship-oriented training. Furthermore, it is planned to train three of the trainees in one biomedical specialty each (biomedical measurement, biomedical signal and image processing or biomedical device development). This training is supported by special hybrid workshops. In order to offer selected courses to a broader audience at Jimma University and beyond, they will be offered on a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) server, which has been established by the project leader as part of an Erasmus+ project. In order to convey the state of the art of medical technology to the visiting students and to enable networking with industrial partners, annual excursions to MEDICA, the world’s most important trade fair for medical technology, are organized. Based on joint research projects, a cooperative doctorate is planned. A scientific exchange on an international level will take place annually through presentations by qualified fellows at the “Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society”.
