The University of Warwick Law School is proud to announce the graduation of its first 16 students from the Ethiopia Project who have received a LLM in Law & Development. The graduation took place at Mekelle University, which is based in the town of Mekelle in Northern Ethiopia. Degrees were conferred by Professor Roger Burridge and Professor Abdul Paliwala acted as Master of Ceremonies. Chief guests included Minister Dr. Menbere Tsehay Tadesse, Director of The Justice and Legal Research Institute, who delivered the keynote address and the State Minister for Justice Ahmed Abagisa.

Students that graduated with distinction LLM in Law & Development: Kahsay Debesu Gebray, Desta Gebremichael Gidey, Firehiwot Wujira Fujiya

Students that graduated with a LLM in Law & Development : Bayable Getahun Akalu, Dereje Alemu Goftuma, Abadi W/Rufael Araeya, Misker Getahun Assefa, Asnakech Getnet Ayele, Dereje Ayana Etefa, Fanaye Gebrehiwot Feleke, Alem Abraha Gebre-Egziabher, Obong Ojulu Gilo, Nurilign Mulugeta Gurmessa, Tesfay Kumenit Woldu, Robel Ephrem Mebratu, Addiswork Tilahun Teklemariam.

Kahsay Debesu Gebray and Firehiwot Wujira Fujiya received prizes from Warwick University for outstanding achievement.

This LLM programme is part of a larger capacity building project that the University of Warwick Law School embarked on about 2 ½ years ago with the Justice and Legal System Research Institute (A Ethiopian Government Institution). The aim of the project is to assist local universities in Ethiopia to develop a culture and framework for postgraduate legal education and scholarship.

As part of its capacity building strategy The University of Warwick Law School ran a LLM programme for two years out in Ethiopia at Mekelle University (the host University), in Law & Development. This LLM came to an end in January 2011. The aim of the LLM was to encourage critical legal research and writing in areas of law related to Law and Development. The programme was innovative and delivered in a course model that was specifically designed for the project which pushed at the frontiers of transnational education.

The capacity building project is itself a 5 year programme and the University of Warwick Law School is currently running a Joint LLM in Law & Development in conjunction with Mekelle University. We also currently have enrolled 18 PhD students who are engaged in Legal research and scholarship covering a vast array of areas from Gender and HIV to Dams and Trade Arbitration. As well as these initiatives we engage in other activities to help develop a research and scholarship culture and build administrative capacity.

For more information on the Ethiopia Project please visit our website: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/ethiopia