The executive leadership of Addis Ababa University (AAU) visited The Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction, and City Development (EiABC), and School of Commerce as well as discussed with their staffs on the ongoing reforms of the University’s autonomy on September 18, 2023.

Heyaw Terefe (PhD), Executive Director of EiABC, stated that the Institute works on the expansion of thematic, adaptive and collaborative researches, and extracts extra budget revenue sources in community engagement services focusing on construction, research, training and consultancy.

“Regardless of multifaceted challenges, the Institute has massive potential to implement the AAU autonomy through increasing technical and financial capacity for quality education, research and community engagement,” said the director.

Worku Mekonnen (PhD), Dean of School of Commerce, on his part explained that the School has produced relevant research outputs and published them on different journals, supported by different income generative projects.

According to Dr. Worku, the School delivers employment tests, training programs and consultancy services in its community engagement activities being a source of income to the University.

“The autonomy brings good opportunity to the financial market and encourages better work initiative through adjusting organizational structure, increasing the moral of the staff and reducing turnovers, renovating infrastructure and creating better relationships with the business community,” he added.

Samuel Kifle (PhD), The Interim President of AAU, said that talent-based university community is essential to own competent and strong universities that fairly serve both the government and the general public.

“When we build these educational institutions, it should be seen from the perspective of getting qualified students, having qualified teachers, handling qualified researchers and organizing qualified leadership,” Dr. Samuel said.

The President advised that the many qualified researchers and teachers in the University who are doing great works for the country should gather, coordinate and use their potentials to generate wealth for the AAU and its community as well.

According to Dr. Samuel, beyond acquiring wealth, the University should create conducive environment for its community and own restructured leadership as well as management system so that the autonomy achieves its intended vision, mission and goals.

Finally, the president indicated that it is necessary to continue the autonomous system without making silly/observable mistakes and be a model to other national universities. “We should work hard focusing on what solutions our universities have brought instead of counting how many institutions our country owns,” he added.

Reporter: Tsion Aysheshim

Photo: Andualem Aseffa

Editor: Abraham Girmay