Institution of the Patron
Preserving the Past While Building the Future
Living Heritage
Ethiopia has a long tradition of patronage, with influential patrons supporting academic, religious, and civic institutions to address pressing needs. Historically, patrons built schools, provided supplies, fed the needy, established care facilities, and offered healthcare. To continue this tradition, Addis Ababa University has established the Institution of the Patron at the Guenete Leul Palace. The Institution aims to:
Leverage connections to raise funds, secure partnerships, and gain access to decision-makers to create opportunities.
Raise the public profile of client institutions to increase awareness, credibility, and visibility to potential donors and partners.
Promote fundraising by encouraging philanthropic giving. The Institution's storied lineage sends a powerful message of support and continuity, potentially increasing donations, media coverage, and volunteerism.
Boost staff and student morale and motivation by representing Ethiopia's diverse cultural heritage. The Institution hopes to instill pride and accomplishment in being linked to the country's rich patronage tradition
Addis Ababa University Patronage
As the sole institution to serve at the request of a branch of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia as the ceremonial embodiment of Ethiopia’s Solomonic Dynasty and as custodian of its rich intangible heritage, the Institution of the Patron aims to elevate the cultural and academic importance of Guenete Leul Palace and Addis Ababa University as a whole. To realize this vision, the Institution of the Patron works diligently to establish and expand strategic partnerships, promote research collaborations, and showcase Ethiopia’s multicultural intangible heritage on the global stage.
Pillars of Action
The Institution of the Patron works hand in hand with Addis Ababa University to base all of its activities on the following Pillars of Action
Education
In addition to expansive opportunities for intellectual exchange, education on Ethiopian culture, norms and traditions are built into every experience.
Research
Visiting public, private, and academic institutions are invited to engage in collaborative research projects with Addis Ababa University scholars. In so doing, Ethiopia’s academic institutions seek to contribute to the diversification of global peer reviewed research.
Community Service
Service opportunities are built into every experience to provide visitors the opportunity to give back to the communities that safeguard the culture, heritage and knowledge that is being exchanged.
Collaboration
The Institution of the Patron makes possible partnerships between Addis Ababa University and governmental, intergovernmental, academic, and civic institutions worldwide. Through customized educational experiences, research opportunities, and cultural preservation activities, the Institution provides much needed logistical support to global partners by hosting visiting scholars, students and dignitaries; and, based on their goals, connecting them with all of the relevant institutions, departments and research centers at Addis Ababa University and across Ethiopia. Through our establishment of Addis Ababa University’s Institution of the Patron we strive to ensure that visiting guests are able to have a structured, well rounded and truly fulfilling experience in Ethiopia.
Educational Experiences
The Institution of the Patron develops partnerships with world leaders, government bodies, academic institutions and intergovernmental agencies as an integral part of putting Addis Ababa University students and scholars at the center of global discourse on issues such as climate change, distributive justice and gender equality. With this in mind, the Institution of the Patron offers educational experiences for those interested in learning. These educational experiences are custom designed in conjunction with Addis Ababa University students and scholars to provide an environment of cultural exchange and intellectual rigor.
Research Collaboration
The Institution of the Patron aims to promote research collaborations between Addis Ababa University’s various research institutes and international universities, laboratories, agencies, and corporations; as a means of intellectual exchange and collaborative scholarly publications.
Cultural Preservation
Along side Ethiopia’s expansive museum of cultural artifacts, Guenete Leul Palace, through the Institution of the Patron, proudly showcases Ethiopia’s diverse intangible cultural heritages; including but not limited to six UNESCO recognized intangible cultural practices, which include:
Meskel - The commemoration feast of the finding of the True Holy Cross of Christ.
Timket - Ethiopian Epiphany
Fichee - Chambalaalla, New Year festival of Sidama people
Shuwalid Festival - Annual three-day festival following Ramadan celebrated by the Harari people
Gada System - an indigenous democratic socio-political system of the Oromo people