Addis Ababa University (AAU’s) all middle and lower level management of colleges, institutes and schools have taken a two days training on the Ethiopia’s policy and strategy trends of science, developed by MoSHE at College of Business and Economics Main Hall from 18^th to 19^th of March 2021.

According to Matiwos Ensermu (PhD), Vice President for Administration and Student Services, the purpose of this policy and strategy is to develop and use indigenous knowledge and technologies based on scientific facts to achieve Ethiopia’s prosperity by 2040 E.C and to ensure the needs of citizens through improved scientific infrastructure, technical and professional skills.

The training aspires how to establish and implement a framework for resource support, infrastructure, building a scientific culture to create an accurate information management ecosystem, promote knowledge-based education, research, innovation and scientific knowledge towards development, Matiwos said.

As Matiwos stated, the policy and strategy tends to focus on human resource development, scientific research and innovation, enterprises expansion, enabling administration and management, financial incentive and resource executive systems.

Human resource development foresees, Matiwos clarified, to produce technicians, engineers, scientists with the medium and advanced knowledge required by the economy; to develop citizens’ understanding of science and scientific culture, establishing various science clubs, exhibitions, museums for young people through centres, implementing information technology and artificial intelligence.

“Financial incentive system tries to facilitate and establish financial supports to motivate basic and problem-solving research, to implement an incentive award system that inspires researchers, innovators and institutions which have played significant national roles in science and technology,” Matiwos noted.

Professor Abebe Dinku, Vice President for Institutional Development of AAU, on his part forwarded messages on the ten year strategic plan (2013-2022 E.C) of the development of science indicating strategies, focus-areas and expected outcomes.

“Quality and relevance of science development creates skilled citizens, quality and employable graduates, access to and equity of scientific development, equal provision of scientific results to all sections of society in terms of education and training, minimizes unequal distribution of wealth among the community …,” Prof Abebe said.

According to Prof Abebe, scientific development on management and administration establishes sustainable and secured financial system; encourages innovative culture on technology; increases scientific research capacity and utilization; supports indigenous knowledge with scientific research; creates modern participatory and operating capabilities with accountability on institutional fit.

The strategic goal of the plan, as Prof Abebe stated, tries to improve the quality and efficiency of scientific research; strengthen and enhance technology transfer; develop and use an organized knowledge management system; expand and prop stakeholder engagement, cooperation and networking with stakeholders; enforce institutional science development capacity building, provide scientific infrastructure and resources.

As mentioned on due course, the middle and lower level managements who have taken this training are intended to train the same course to all staff members of the University scheduled to be given in the first days of the week ahead.

By: Abraham Girmay

Photo: Fikremariam Beyene