Dr. Hirko’s virtual defence was completed by videoconference with examiners Professors Ruth Okediji (Harvard University), Obiafor Okafor (York University), Teresa Scassa and Michael Geist (University of Ottawa), the defence was chaired by Professor Marie-France Fortin (University of Ottawa).
The doctoral thesis was inspired by Dr. Hirko’s own experiences as a learner in Ethiopia, by his research with Dr. Annette Kur at the Max Planck Institute, and by Open AIR network’s early research on Access to Knowledge in Africa. Professors Chidi Oguamanam and Jeremy de Beer highlighted how proud they were of Dr. Hirko’s work at the Centre for Law, Technology, and Society, and throughout the African continent with the Open African Innovation Research Network.
Dr. Hirko’s doctoral research was generously supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the International Development Research Centre, the Centre for International Governance Innovation, the Open Society Foundations, and the Queen Elizabeth Scholars programme.
After this doctorate at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Hirko’s next endeavour is to pursue a fully-funded graduate fellowship at Harvard Law School, where he has accepted a place for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Congratulations to Dr. Hirko!