Overview

With the rapid development of industrial, agricultural, commercial, and service sectors, coupled with the growth of population and urbanization in Ethiopia, the country is facing tremendous challenges of resource depletion/ environmental degradation and pollution. In recognition of the global environmental challenges, the same ever-growing problems in Ethiopia, and the relevance of environmental science, technology, and innovation to the sustainable development needs of the country, a multi-disciplinary M.Sc. The degree Program in Environmental Science was established in 2002 in the then Faculty of Science. The decision was made after taking into account the dire need for such expertise in the country based on a cursory assessment study made in consultation with key government, private and civic organizations in the development, manufacturing, regulatory, controlling and protection, and research sectors.

The program is the first of its kind in the country designed to focus on training and applied research activities aiming at enabling graduates to develop overall expertise and research ability and professionalism in various aspects of environmental issues in the country. It is an interdisciplinary field that integrates different disciplinary sciences to generate and apply new knowledge and innovations to nurture the quality of the environment and to ensure the sustainable use of resources. To respond to the complex environmental challenges in air, water, and soil quality, energy and resource utilization, waste and wastewater management, and development impacts and industries, the country needs to develop an advanced scientific and technical understanding of environmental issues and a proficiency in environmental analysis and decision-making by producing the required skilled manpower that is extremely in short supply in the country.

The presence of a well-established graduate training program at the M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels as well as a strong research wing in environmental science will greatly enhance the existing capacity to forge institutional collaboration in bringing highly qualified professionals and to mobilize all necessary resources for environmental science training and research as well innovation in the country.

In response to these needs, the M.Sc. training Program followed by the Ph.D. The program was launched in 2002 and 2010, respectively at the Centre for Environmental Sciences. The M.Sc. The program has thus far served its purpose of training and producing the necessary skilled professionals in environmental science and management. More than 900 M.Sc. Students graduated over the last 18 years, and with the vast experience it has accumulated so far in teaching, research, and capacity building, the Centre developed a sound Ph.D. curriculum and started accepting Ph.D. students in 2010. Currently, the Centre is training 80 Ph.D. students and preparing to accept more Ph.D. candidates from higher learning institutions in the country.

Mission and Vision

Mission

The Center for Environmental Science’s mission is to advance the understanding of the environment and sustainability through the development of interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach programs.

With a mission of producing competent graduates, providing need-based community services, producing problem-solving research outputs, and playing a pivotal role in technology creation and transfer through innovative and creative education, research, and consultancy services to foster social and economic development of Ethiopia, AAU aspires to be among the top ten pre-eminent graduate and research universities in Africa by 2025.

Through its establishment proclamation, Addis Ababa University has the mandate to train highly skilled human power, undertake research, and render services to the wider community in line with the objectives of Higher Education in the country.

Vision

The vision of the Center for Environmental Science is to provide an excellent education in environmental sciences that produces knowledgeable and skilled scientists accompanied by facilitating cutting-edge research focused on solving 21st-century environmental issues.

Conscious of its mandate and obligations, AAU had been taking several concrete steps to fulfill the obligations, including strengthening the research and technology transfer units also through additional funding, building capacity for the national universities by a need-based increase in post-graduate numbers, etc.