CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Abebaw Yirga Adamu, a professor in higher education and the director of quality assurance at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, said he has connected with and engaged with more people than he initially anticipated during his tenure as a Global South Fellow.
Adamu, one of five fellows accepted into the 2025-2026 fellowship program, wrapped up his three-month long fellowship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in February.
The Global South Fellowship, which was launched in 2024, is a joint initiative funded by the University of Birmingham and Illinois. The purpose of the fellowship is to promote research collaboration and partnership development for early career researchers from countries within the Global South.
Adamu holds a PhD in Education and Society from the University of Tampere in Finland, an MA in Lifelong Learning Policy and Management from the University of Aarhus and the University of Deusto, an MEd in Multicultural and Multilingual Education from Addis Ababa University, and a BEd in Amharic Language from Bahir Dar University.
He is an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School and a fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences. He was also a NAFSA Global Dialogue Fellow and an IREX Research Management Fellow.
In addition to his current roles, Adamu also serves on the Education Sector Professional Advisory Council for Ethiopia's Ministry of Education and previously held the position of Director at the Ethiopian Institute for Higher Education at Addis Ababa University.
Following the conclusion of his fellowship, Adamu shared reflections about his experience, what he learned, what he plans to do moving forward, and explains why fellowships are essential to global learning and collaboration.
How did you learn about the Global South Fellowship? What was the application process like and what was your reaction when you learned that you had received the award?
Adamu: I was planning to be on sabbatical leave and wanted to spend part of that time learning more about women's leadership in higher education outside Africa. I just googled for an opportunity, and I found the Global South Fellowship as a perfect one. I was happy to learn that I have been awarded the fellowship, without which I could not achieve what I planned.
Tell me about your experience on campus. What has stood out to you? Do you have any favorite moments?
Adamu: I am having great experiences in both academic and non-academic matters. I believe that fellowships also provide an opportunity for professional and social networking and for developing cultural awareness through engagement in or attendance at various formal and informal activities. The plan we are working on for a potential partnership is one of the best outcomes of my fellowship.
Who are you collaborating with on campus? What has that collaboration been like?
Adamu: I am collaborating with Prof. Tamara Bertrand Jones (professor in Education Policy, Organization, & Leadership in the Illinois College of Education). The collaboration is very strong, and she helped me learn more through reading, talking to different people about women’s leadership, and to make the best out of my stay by organizing seminars with different university communities and facilitating my attendance at some events that broaden my historical, social, and political views and perspectives. I owe her a lot for my successful fellowship.
Tell me about your research. What project are you working on as a Global South Fellow?
Adamu: My research is on advancing women’s leadership in higher education. It aims to examine the strategies, policies, and institutional cultures that foster women’s leadership in U.S. universities; analyze how leadership development initiatives, mentoring approaches, and faculty support systems are structured; and investigate how networks strengthen leadership preparedness, enhance visibility, build confidence, encourage research partnerships, and promote professional advancement. It also seeks to identify the personal and professional competencies that contribute to leadership readiness, explore how women academics develop their leadership identities within institutional settings, and understand how national cultures, economic contexts, institutional autonomy, and gender norms influence women’s leadership.
What have you learned about yourself through this experience? Is there anything specifically that you will take back with you when you return to Ethiopia?
Adamu: I feel fortunate to have connected with and engaged more people than I initially expected. In the field of women’s leadership, most researchers are women, so approaching it as a male researcher offers me a different perspective and, in many cases, has made others more open to engaging with me. I have been genuinely impressed by people’s willingness to contribute to scholarship, especially their readiness to participate in discussions on short notice. Although I like to think of myself as similarly responsive, this experience has left a strong impression on me, one that I intend to carry forward and encourage others to do the same when I return to my home country.
After the fellowship wraps up, what are your next steps? How will you continue your research and how will you continue to collaborate with new connections?
Adamu: In the short term, I plan to share my experience with selected faculty members and provide a capacity-building seminar, primarily for women faculty and leaders at my university and other universities in Ethiopia. I will also continue to strengthen the potential partnership among my university, Illinois, Alabama State University, and others, if need be.
Why are fellowships important?
Adamu: Fellowships like this are highly valuable because they create opportunities to engage with diverse perspectives across varied contexts. They also offer richer and more meaningful professional networking experiences compared to those typically available through online platforms. Fellowships also enable fellows to gain a deeper understanding of the host country’s culture, history, and political landscape, not just through reading, but through firsthand experiences such as attending events, visiting different places, and interacting directly with people.
How will this fellowship help you in your role as a professor, a director, and as a member on the Education Sector Professional Advisory Council for Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education?
Adamu: This fellowship will significantly strengthen my contributions in multiple roles. As a professor, I have benefited from exposure to diverse leadership models, strategies, and perspectives, which I can integrate into my courses and use to mentor my students more effectively. As a director, I have practical insights and best practices that can inform programs and leadership initiatives, fostering more inclusive and effective leadership within my institution. As a member of the Education Sector Professional Advisory Council for Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education, the fellowship will deepen my understanding of global trends and evidence-based approaches in women’s leadership, enabling me to contribute more strategically to policy discussions, advocate for gender-responsive initiatives, and support the development of education programs that empower women and strengthen leadership across the sector.
What advice would you give to other higher education professionals who are applying for fellowships?
Adamu: I would advise those applying for fellowships to have a clear goal of what they want to achieve through the experience and to allocate sufficient time to prepare their application and all necessary documents. It is also helpful to research the host university and key contacts in advance. While unexpected situations can arise, they are usually rare, and applicants should be aware that host institutions and administrative teams often provide strong support throughout the application process, arrival, and stay. Fellowships and international exposure are valuable experiences for professional growth in higher education.