The Toronto-Addis Ababa academic collaboration: emergency medicine.

It is common for universities to form academic partnerships to strengthen their provision of educational opportunities for the faculty and staff at both institutions. These efforts are occasionally done, particularly in north-south partnerships, by partners with different means. As such, unless a true spirit of collaboration is sought, agreed upon, and both parties given equal authority to determine its success, imbalances can prevent each from achieving its goal. Using a collaboration between Addis Ababa University and the University of Toronto as an example, the facets of what makes an appropriate and successful partnership are explored, and outcomes that are meaningful to both institutions described.