From August 18 to August 31, 2024 Sofia Nikolaevna Zamesina, Senior Laboratory Technician Center for the Study of BRICS African Strategy Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, had a research internship at the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Addis Ababa.
During the internship, she conducted a study to analyze the cultural and social values and educational preferences of Ethiopian youth and to investigate the intention to study abroad. A 17-question questionnaire was administered, consisting of 17 questions regarding parental education level, intention to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies, prevalence of online education in the country, and others. The respondents were 153 university and high school students from Addis Ababa and Debre Zeit universities and schools aged 16-25 years old. Responses were collected manually using paper forms. The first three questions allowed the sample to be characterized. The questions were related to place of birth, educational level of parents, desire to study abroad, prevalence of online education in the country, choice of major, opinion on the most needed professions for the country, etc. Part of the questions concerned the desire to continue studying abroad, particularly in Russia. After collecting primary information, the answers were processed in the Smart PLS-SEM system in order to identify factors influencing the intention to study.
Analysis of the data revealed that student values and practical knowledge orientation influenced the desire to continue studying more than demographic characteristics (gender, place of birth, and parents' education level). It was also found that there is generational continuity in Ethiopian society: parents' level of education influences the intention to continue studying. Regarding education abroad, 75% of Ethiopians plan to continue their education abroad. 60 respondents chose Russia as a place for further education. Among the reasons for their choice: good level of education in the country, more job offers in their specialty, availability of scholarships and student mobility programs, status of Russian education, as well as continuity of generations.
