Addis Ababa, Oct 6 (UNI) President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday expressed pride in the 2,000-strong Indian faculty, who he said 'serve as a bridge between respective academic communities and foster linkages and research collaborations between universities and educational institutions' in both countries. Acknowledging the contribution of the Indian faculty members to teaching and to academic research in Ethiopian universities, the President, addressing the academic and student community at Addis Ababa University, the oldest university in Ethiopia, stressed that cooperation in education had been the fulcrum of Indian engagement with Ethiopia. 'When Ethiopia embarked on its efforts to expand its education sector, Indian teachers were invited here to teach in elementary and secondary schools. Those early pioneers travelled to the remotest parts of the country, instilled values and ideals in young minds and dedicated entire lifetimes to the noble calling of teaching,' he told students and faculty here before concluding his four-day state visit to Djibouti and Ethiopia. 'Just as Indian teachers have contributed to Ethiopian institutions, a steady stream of Ethiopian students has added to the scholarship and cultural mosaic of universities in India,' he noted, pointing out that alumni of Indian educational institutions occupied positions of eminence in Ethiopia and included the First Lady and at least nine Ministers in the Cabinet. More UNI XC SD AE 1634