News letter Volume 1, Issue III - Addis Ababa University

AAU Bi-monthlyENQUIRY. MASTERY. SERVICEWhen AAU moves, all others followA bi-monthlynewsletterproduced bythe UniversityCommunicationsOfficeVisit us online:www.aau.edu.etVolume 1, Issue 3Feb. 07, 2012Photo by: Tsegaye BeyeneInside this issue:AAU-EU agree….2Much is there to attend at AAU as long as we let calibers get out of shelves, labs and workshopsSee the story on page 7We want all trophies homeAAU communitylooks………..…..3School runs training……………...4AAU–Chinese….……..5Spring festival….8Photo by: Tsegaye BeyeneAnother year of trophies, another year for AAU’s name to fly high. Details on page 5This bi-monthly newsletter is produced by Communications Office of Addis Ababa University.Please reach us on: commoffice@aau.edu.et

P A G E 2AAU-EU agree to go bigAddis Ababa Universityand the European Union(EU) agreed to focus onimproving academic andcountry wide developmentprogress, as part of a driveto strengthen cooperationin higher education andresearch. Partnership withEU has not so far beengreeted institutionally andrather had a status ofindividual academicrelationships with many ofthe member countries.The encounter was made atOffice of the President,AAU, on 31 January 2012and Admasu Tsegaye(PhD), AAU President, haswarmly welcomed thedelegates. EU AmbassadorXavier Morchal and EU’spolitical consultant ReneMilas have made thoroughdiscussions with AAUmanagement to establish ajoint work program forfuture cooperation. “AddisAbaba University isThinking of a heavy weight deal –more packages in linecurrently boosting effortsto increase access for itspostgraduate studentsand researchers to higherlevelinstitutions as partPhoto by: Sofonias Yosefof its drive to improve thecountry's academic andindustrial capacity” Dr.Admasu told the delegates.Cont...on page 7A delegation from theUniversity of Barcelona,Spain, has visited AddisAbaba University to discusson academic collaborations.Admasu Tsegaye (PhD),AAU President, haswelcomed the team in hisoffice on Jan 24 , 2012, andthe two institutions willconclude multilateralcollaborations through aMemorandum of Understandingto follow soon.Barcelona University eyes AAUPhoto by: Sofonias YosefThe Catalans’ turn to a promising partnerDr. Admasu has reminded sors from the region arethe team that many profes- engaged in AAU’s effortsand more is needed asdemands in the teachingand research of computerscience and IT disciplinesconstantly expand.The University ofBarcelona intends toclosely work with theUniversity and wantsAAU to host internationalworkshops to strengthenthe ties in the near future.A A U B I - M O N T H L YThis bi-monthly newsletter is produced by Communications Office of Addis Ababa University.Please reach us on: commoffice@aau.edu.et

V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 3P A G E 3AAU community looks into new AAU structurePhoto by: Sofonias YosefThis January, it seems, isthe season for change andhopes are buoyant as thepush for solid change atAAU dominates all talkson the top managementtables.It’s been a while since‘change talks’ came toAAU, though solid deliverieswere left in vain. Allother cumbersome choreswere cleared throughextensive reform phasesdespite the mass lost vibethrough the extended dateof its birth. Following, anew structure is drafted inline with the BPR conclusions.The new AAU draftstructure was afloat fordiscussions and concernedofficials have deliberatedHow tough would it be to leave normative concessions?Some faces, pictured here and not, were more serious about retaininglong lived ‘stamina’ and some looked tousled between nostalgia andanticipated gloom in territorial prospects: the cost for this,however, seems not that expensive.on the looks of the draft onWednesday, Jan 18 atEshetu Chole Hall, whilethe management tooknotes to see where adjustmentscould be made.New structure is believedto boost the efficiency ofthe different working unitsand increase satisfaction toall parties that have stakein the institution.Admassu Tsegaye (PhD),AAU President, said hesees into all possibilities athand to realize the longawaited change, and hasvowed a soon to happensubstantial reform is amust. He has noted thatthe draft document wouldn’tjust go functional beforethe University communitydebates on every spec ofit, and he has underlinedcomments from the assemblywill be thoroughlystudied and the tasked committeewill incorporate allthat merit in the structure.Dr. Admasu also sees theeffects should be felt at everylevel and believes the key ishaving a clear vision on howto capitalize the efforts toaccommodate the burgeoningnational and internationalneeds and build thereputation of the university.The tone of the consultativemeeting has hosted bothvigor and gripe as sessionwas mainly meant forstirring such a mix. However,meeting was not alla blessing as cry outssurpassed emotions,showing many care forthe overall growth ofAAU. Definitive commentswere sourced fromconcerns over loosetreatment of disciplines,territorial marking, boldnessand not least, nostalgia.A substantial expanseof the comments wasindicative of the truenature of change: normativeconcessions are nevereasy to leave.Discussions will go onuntil the draft gets aviable shape and implementationwill follow thesooner possible.New wave, New PathJoin hands in AAU’s reform processThis bi-monthly newsletter is produced by Communications Office of Addis Ababa University.Please reach us on: commoffice@aau.edu.et

P A G E 4School runs training workshopsPhoto by: Asres BantigegnJeilu O. (PhD), and Mekasha K. (PhD) look to have more in the goThe Graduate School ofEducation, CEBS, held atwo days long workshopat Fiche town from January28-29 to introduce thenewly launched educationprogram.Termed as Post GraduateDiploma in Teaching(PGDT), the orientationa n d c o n s u l t a t i v eworkshop on the teachereducation program wasadministered with theobjective of introducingthe North Shoa Zoneeducation bureau officers,s e c o n d a r y s c h o o lprincipals and mentors tothe practicum implementati o n a n dmentoring procedures.“This workshop is historicaland the first of its kindto be conducted out of AddisAbaba” said JeiluOumer (PhD), AAU’s AcademicVice President, inhis opening speech. Dr.Jeilu has underlined theimportance of prioritizingteachers training empowermentsfor the productionof qualified studentsin particular and assuringnational education qualityin general. “One of theemphasis given by thegrowth and transformationplan (GTP) is to boostquality of educationwhich comes as a result ofup grading teachers’current competence andprofessional skills throughtrainings and workshopslike this” Dr. Jeilu told theparticipants noting howimportant running suchsessions is.The merit of this trainingmainly goes into strengtheninguniversity- secondary-primary schoolspartnerships and collaborationsto secure qualityeducation. Dr. Jeilu addedthat so far producingqualified students was leftonly to universities andcolleges and now is timeto reverse the role andteachers, families, educationbureau officers andall other concernedgovernment and nong o v e r n m e n t b o d i e sshould partner for thetask.“Teachers are the instrumentsand vehicles for thedevelopment of educationand the social sector.Hence, giving attention toupscale their competenceshould be a priority”, saidMekasha Kassaye (PhD),Acting Dean, GraduatePhoto by: Asres BantigegnYet another round in the series, AAU holds more hands to go alongSchool of Education. Thisis the 5 th round in a seriesof workshops administeredby the GraduateSchool of Education thisacademic year, which theearlier four took place inAddis Ababa and Admatowns.Launched by the FDREMinistry of Education inJuly 2011 in ten Universities,PGDT has seen agood seven months ofprogress in multitude ofconsultative and educationalstages. AAU ischarged with training 450school principals andmentors.The training workshopwas participatory and wasenriched by the trainees’q u e s t i o n s a n dcomments about thepracticum implementationand mentoring proceduresof the PGDT. Trainees ontheir part have showncommitment and readinessfor the practicumimplementation of theprogram so as to contributetheir share for theissue.Training was given to 107teachers and mentors.A A U B I - M O N T H L YThis bi-monthly newsletter is produced by Communications Office of Addis Ababa University.Please reach us on: commoffice@aau.edu.et

V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 3P A G E 5AAU-Chinese Universities Collaboration continuesBeijing Foreign StudiesUniversity (BFSU) delegationvisited Ethiopia in theweek of the African UnionSummit and was welcomedat the Office of thepresident here at AAU on27 January, 2012. BFSU’sdelegation visit aimed atcreating partnerships withAAU and increase governmentscholarship fundsfor student and staffexchange, getting Amhariclanguage teaching aidsand professionals and tojointly work on internationalconferences that canserve both parties. BFSUwill be the first Chineseinstitution to run Amhariclanguage as a study inChina.Countering the discussion,Admasu Tsgaye (PhD),AAU President, said hisUniversity is working hardto strengthen academic andresearch collaborations withUS, European, Asian andAfrican universities andrecent trends show muchcould be explored fromChinese Universities.“You are going to be thefirst to start Amharic languageteaching in china. Itmakes me happy to hearthis and we long to sign aMemorandum of Understanding”said Dr.Admasu.Recalling what his visits toChina showed him, Dr.Admasu has acknowledgedthe good workculture and hard workingpeople and thankedChinese people for theirefforts and enormousassistance for the bettermentof developmentactivities of Ethiopia.As Ethiopia houses AfricanUnion Headquartersand many Chinese companiesare operating inOpening here, the lan-guage and culturalexchange of both countriesis inevitable, if not late,both counters agreed. Theopening of Amahric languagecentre at BFSU isbelieved to create a goodunderstanding of Ethiopianculture to the Chinesesociety, and otherwise.A memorandum of Understandingis to follow soonto mark the official partnershipsand start practicalexchanges.Request is made to Dr.Admasu and a facultyfrom AAU’s Amhariclanguage department tovisit BFSU’s premises inBeijing.We want … Cont.. From page 1The 5 th inter-universitysports competition kickedoff at Ambo University onSaturday, 02 February,2011. AAU’S squad wasseen off by AdmasuTsegaye (PhD), AAU President.This year’s AAU sportssquad, 100 male and 65females, holds diverseparticipatorymajors:football, basketball, handball, volleyball, groundtennis, badminton andathletics in both sexes andtable tennis, chase and-kuan-do in malecategory.teOn the opening day, thefirst ever medals of thecompetition have gone toour University in women’sfree 3000 meters athleticsand Paralympics men200metres, and positionedAAU in the lead.This competition is onecore extracurricular activityand a great experiencefor the students as they getto meet other students ofhigher education institutesaround the country. Competitionwas officiallyopened with dignitariesconvened at the AmboUniversity including Dr.Admasu Tsegaye, AtoThis bi-monthly newsletter is produced by Communications Office of Addis Ababa University.Please reach us on: commoffice@aau.edu.etDemekeMekonnen,Minister, Ministry ofEducation, Dr. TewodrosAdhanom,Minister,Ministry of Health,higher government officials,University Presidentsthe US Ambassadorto Ethiopia andother protocols observed.Best wishes for AAUsports squad. Bestwishes for all competingUniversities.

P A G E 6University– Industry linkageA A U B I - M O N T H L YThis bi-monthly newsletter is produced by Communications Office of Addis Ababa University.Please reach us on: commoffice@aau.edu.et

V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 3When AAU moves …. Cont... From page 1P A G E 7AAU-EU agree...Addis Ababa University,in its prescience to deepenties with the industry hasrun a three days open dayexhibitory programme.The event, organized bythe Community ServicesOffice, is the first scaledup throw in the efforts torenew vibe in the run totransfer knowledge andback the country’s industrygrowth.The open day was putmainly to show thatcommunity services is nomore a casual business,but rather one coreelement of the foundationsof the University’s being.Open day was madeexhibitory to fosterdiscussions and remindboth AAU communityand stake holding partiesthat the silence is not acomplete stagnate andremind all it is time torecollect efforts and injectall possible outputs intothe industry, a deservedlygiveback to thePhoto by: Tsegaye BeyeneNot enough for a veteran , the ‘Hariti’ man seems to have moreoverall community development.‘Current wave of transformationdoes not allow usto sit and watch the speedychange in the global highereducation climate’, saidAdmasu Tesegaye (PhD),AAU President, addressingthe gathering at theopening ceremony.‘When AAU moves, all othersfollow, and a paradigmshift is possible” saysHE Ato Juneydin Sa’ado,Minister, Ministry of CivilServices and Chair of theAddis Ababa UniversityGoverning Board.Dr. Admasu has noted thatknowledge should beshared and technologytransferred, hence, makingAAU’s focus high onresearch activities andmuscling the wing toshoulder deepened societalproblems.“Only the service ourUniversity provides makesit substantially importantmore than any needy causeand this should be added tothe community demands”,added Dr. Admasu.Cont...from page 2Ambassador XavierMorchal has noted thatUniversities are centers ofadvancement and AAU isa comprehensive Universityin the country andeying this big institutionas a hub to coordinateefforts to promote mutualcooperation and exchangesin higher educationand research is amust.“AAU will host a donors’and partners conferenceto gather momentum andpush into more effectivecollaboration”, said HirutWoldemariam (PhD),AAU’s Vice President forExternal Relations, StrategicPlan and Partnerships.The intended programwill focus on encouragingthe University toimprove mutual awarenesson respectiveeducation and researchsystems.Photo by: Tsegaye BeyeneSelf dialogue as screen astonishes crowedNo effort surpasses the endeavors to transfertechnological innovations to address chronic needs ofour society, and this mainly lies in the very embeddedduty of universities to pool every possible technologyand create the platform for usability of adapted basics,says HE Ato Juneydin. “Not only have and transfer, butalso adapt, revise and sustain the usability of acquiredtechnologies. Not helping our youth converse with hightech options now means that we someday will shouldera consuming, yet unproductive, generation”, he added.Cont...on page 8This bi-monthly newsletter is produced by Communications Office of Addis Ababa University.Please reach us on: commoffice@aau.edu.et

P A G E 8Spring festival @ AAUThe Chinese languagecenter at AAU and theAddis Ababa ConfuciusInstitute held a celebrationfor the Chinese NewYear, the Spring Festival,on January 24, 2012 onmain campus.Marking of the daystarted with openingremarks by AdmasuTsegaye (PhD), AAUPresident, and Mr. ZhengGuojin, Cultural Counselorof the ChineseEmbassy.“The relationshipbetween China andEthiopia is gettingstronger, and this shouldbe better bonded inacademic collaborations”,said Dr. Admasupainting the need tomake such culturalexchanges in anacademic environment.“As this year is a Dragonyear which falls in thedefinition of bringingsuccess and happiness,AAU hopes to have afruitful alliance withChina”, Dr. Admasuadded.Mr. Zheng Guojin on hispart underlined the rolecelebrating the festivalplays in enhancingcultural exchangesbetween Ethiopia andChina and thanked theChinese language center atAAU and Addis AbabaConfucius Institute forhosting such a remarkableday.Chinese performancegiven by Addis AbabaConfucius Institute studentsand Chinese cultureexperience including ChineseTea, Paper cuttingand Chinese Chopstickswere some of the ingredientsof the festivity.The Spring Festival,“Chunjie” ( ) is themost important festivalfor the Chinese peopleand is time when allfamily members gettogether, just like Christmasin the West.节 春When AAU moves …. Cont... From page 7Dr. Hirut Woldemariam,Vice President for ExternalRelations, Strategic Planand Partnerships on herpart has stressed that theOffice for CommunityServices, which falls in herportfolio, plans to expandsuch public events as suchno more stands optional.“A simple give back to thecommunity could be madethrough hearty efforts, ifnot it is duty bound”, saidErmias Dagne (Prof.Emeritus), a veteran AAUChemist. Prof. Ermias hasshown the gatheringmedicinal and aromaticherbals research productswhich he said would relaxand give comfort besidesthe medicinal value, whichhe presented a miniaturebottle of extracted herbalsto HE Ato Juneydin on agesture showing gratitude.Delegates from theUniversity of Barcelonaand others have madepresentations to glamourthe session.The open day is initiatedby the department ofComputer Sciences CNS,to run for a day and wonimpressions from thecentral office to pull out asa three days exhibitorysession. HE Ato Juneydinhas cut ribbon to mark theofficial opening of the threedays outdoor show,exhibiting AAU’s researchproducts.A A U B I - M O N T H L YThis bi-monthly newsletter is produced by Communications Office of Addis Ababa University.Please reach us on: commoffice@aau.edu.et

V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 3Highlights from AmboP A G E 9This bi-monthly newsletter is produced by Communications Office of Addis Ababa University.Please reach us on: commoffice@aau.edu.et

P A G E 1 0Addis Ababa University Communications OfficeSay it out loudPublic engagement in any sector isbecoming a must these days, andthe urge weighs on public spacessuch as Addis Ababa University.Being home to brains that publish researchoutputs on world class journals, Addis AbabaUniversity has for long failed to earn thedeservedly pride for its communications isstagnant. It is a high time now that we shouldspeak loud about our University’s feat, and,not only that, we should lay foundations forsustainable communications with those whosestake urges us, within and outside theUniversity.In the thrive to straddle Addis AbabaUniversity’s academic authority and itsquality services, the UniversityCommunications Office calls foreveryone’s effort in freeing the flow ofinformation and introduction of newservices.Upcoming publications include:• University Profile, a 100 pagesh i g h q u a l i t y i n c l u s i v equarterly publication• News and Views, a 40 pagesAddis Ababa University freeopinions host, comes out every sixweeks• Ideas. Dialogues. Debates, amatured academic paperforum that comes out everymonth• AAU Bi-monthly newsletter,Issue 4Please, send us any information that you want it to gopublic and let us know your events ahead of time sothat all the efforts are known to others. We welcomeyour views, opinions and critics on the issues we runand we very much value your inputs.Our office sees into seizing the beats of every spec ofthe University’s endeavors towards academic excellence,and plans to sell what the Universityas a rich culture, with strong push andembedsdemand onissues that need to change. We also stand ahead to sellthe University’sstrategic priorities.We work to foster and let growacademic dialogues.Your input for the papers we produce arevery much welcome, and call us on:0911242547 (Netsanet Y.)0913918762 (Sofonias Y.)0913031763 (Elham A.)0910531443 (Asres B.)commoffice@aau.edu.etThis bi-monthly newsletter is produced by Communications Office of Addis Ababa University.Please reach us on: commoffice@aau.edu.et