The Academic Networking Breakfast was held on March 9, 2023, in the first-floor conference room of PSI. The International Growth Center, in partnership with the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), hosted a networking breakfast at PSI. This is the second such event, as the first was held in late 2022. The theme of the breakfast was migration. The purpose of the networking breakfast is to provide opportunities for researchers to participate in workshops, training programs, and other professional development opportunities. These experiences can help researchers expand their knowledge and expertise, which can lead to better career opportunities.
Dr. Tewodros Makonnen Gebrewolde, Country Economist, IGC Ethiopia, addressed the welcome and gave an overview of IGC's activities. He said the IGC is led by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Oxford University. The country team has been working to increase the visibility of the IGC and expand the network of local and international researchers working on the Ethiopian economy. The team provides opportunities for younger and dynamic researchers (especially females) to network and develop the potential for future research engagement. It is also important to learn about researchers' research priorities and foci to create synergies in policy research. Dr. Tewdros also said that networking today can increase a researcher's visibility within his or her field, which can lead to more opportunities for career advancement. By attending conferences, seminars, and other events, researchers can meet other professionals in their field, present their research, and gain recognition for their work.
Benedetta Musillo of the FCDO also gave a welcoming address. She said international collaboration is growing exponentially, and researchers from different institutions and countries are increasingly working together in consortia focused on specific research questions. Building research networks and collaborations provides the flexibility needed to adapt to a wide range of challenges. They enable shared learning, new research opportunities, the establishment of new research projects, joint grant applications, and technology transfer. Collaboration increases the citation frequency of research manuscripts, especially when an international team of authors is involved. Building research networks is especially important for the Institute for Policy Studies, which has a young research community.
H.E. Professor Beyene Petros then opened the breakfast. During the opening, Professor Beyene said that academic networking refers to the process of building relationships and connections with other professionals and researchers in our field of study or related fields. Academic networking has become increasingly important in today's academic landscape as it provides a number of benefits to researchers, academics, and students alike.
Professor Beyene said academic networks like today's gathering are one of the best opportunities for creating collaboration and partnership opportunities. One of the most important benefits of academic networking is the opportunity to collaborate with other professionals in our field. Through networking, we can meet potential research partners, co-authors, or collaborators, which can help us conduct more innovative and impactful research. By collaborating with other researchers, we expand our knowledge and expertise, which can lead to better career opportunities. Networking can also lead to partnerships with organizations, institutions, or industry professionals. Partnerships with companies or industry professionals can help researchers develop more practical applications for their research, which increases their chances of receiving funding and impacts society in meaningful ways.
Christian Meyer, one of IGC's PIs, presented a paper on refugees (an ongoing research effort). He presented a paper on Memory, Trauma, and Economic Behavior among Refugees: Experimental Evidence from Teaching "Positive Imagery" in Ethiopia. He and his team focused on how trauma impedes economic inclusion among refugees. The presenter discussed the intervention of positive imagery to help improve economic opportunities, saying that imagery tends to be more vivid and emotional. They examined how memory and trauma affect refugees' economic decisions. The participants in the study were Eritrean refugees in Addis Ababa. He then presented preliminary findings. Mental health appears to limit the economic integration of refugees in Addis Ababa. Economic inclusion programs need to address mental health as well
Christina Weiser of the World Bank also presented her research findings on "Voluntary Migration in Ethiopia: In Search of Work and Better Opportunities." She mentioned the various myths that circulate in Ethiopia related to migration. The first myth she mentioned is that migration flows in Ethiopia are too high. Second, all migrants come to Addis Ababa. Myth 3 states that migration does not benefit migrants or their families who stay at home. Myth 4 is that rural-urban migration harms the residents of the destinations. Myth 5 is that rural-urban migration stops the development of rural economies.
During the Researcher Breakfast, Hana Woldekidan and her team presented their ongoing research on the causes, challenges, and opportunities of international migration in Ethiopia: Searching for Policy Options. The speaker, Hana, said that a productive part of the labor force migrates. 77.8 percent of migrants are aged 15-29. There is also an ever-growing illegal migration. She also mentioned returnees and the challenges of reintegration. Her study is based on migration theories, previous literature, and the objectives of the current study, which is based on qualitative and quantitative analysis and file study.
The breakfast was attended by 30 people. PSI Researchers from various fields also attended the event. Finally, Benedetta Musillo of the FCDO provided closing remarks, and networking and discussion continued until lunch.