Haramaya University-Industry Linkage and Entrepreneurship Development Directorate conducted the 2020/21 Business Idea Competition on February 23, 2021at Resource Center.

In the competition 19 business ideas were presented and pitched and judged by five juries using a standard evaluation form.

The call for Business ideas was made in December 2020 and a total of 34 business ideas were submitted by different teams of more than 90 individuals comprising of graduating students, staff and youths from the community. Out of the 34 business ideas, 19 of the teams were able to participate in the competition after first screening. This round competition is the second one after the 2018/19 first round competition. The competition was not conducted last year due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Mitiku Eshetu, Director of the University-Industry Linkage and Entrepreneurship Development (UILEDD), stressed that this competition is aimed to tap innovative business ideas and incubate for further development into actual marketable business. There are excellent business ideas in minds of the youth and the academicians but the realization of these business ideas needs such competition form and testing of business ideas if it is really marketable and commercialized.

The University has an incubation center in which the first three winner teams will be admitted and coached/mentored to nurture their business ideas, receive different supports and commercialize their business ideas.

The Director also confirmed that the second round competition will be conducted soon after junior UG students rejoin the university.

University-Industry Linkage and Entrepreneurship Development has conducted a ceremony of handover of certificate and award for the winners and participants of business idea competitors.

Dr. Mitiku Eshetu, Director for University-Industry Linkage and Entrepreneurship Development, made opening speech and presentation on activities of the Directorate and role of being entrepreneurial through nurturing business ideas.

He indicated that almost all business start ups as ideas and ideas become real through nurturing as does a mother for a developing fetus in her womb. Therefore, we should give due attention to ideas and encourage the youth, particularly graduating students to work on developing business ideas and create their own job instead of solely seeking for job, he added.

Moreover, feedback and discussion were made and the participants indicated that the competition as well as trainings provided to graduates and competitors were excited and were happy to be part of the process.

Suggestions were also forwarded on how to improve the competition in the future; for example, sufficient training time should be given to the trainings and the competition, the training should include other vital components such as feasibility, financial aspect of business ideas, organ gram and mentoring.

During the awards and recognition ceremony handover of the awards to the winners and certificates to the participants of the competition, Dr. Yesihak Yusuf, Vice President for Community Engagement and Enterprise Development, said that the graduated students should not wait for a job, but they should have to create a new idea that they can create a job.

Dr. Yesihak also emphasized that such competition should continue and the Office of the Vice president will give the necessary supports.

Haramaya University (HU) College of Health and Medical Sciences graduated 573 students from various fields in a ceremony held on March 13, 2021 at Chelenqo Hall in Harar.

During the occasion, the College’s Chief Executive Director, Dr Yadeta Dessie, said that the College has so far graduated over 15,000 health professionals in a span of 23 rounds of graduation ceremonies.

It was indicated that this year’s graduation ceremony is special as it took place in line with the College’s 25th anniversary.

President of HU, Dr Jemal Yusuf on his part said that for the past six decades the University has been engaged on a wide range of vital teaching-learning, research and extension as well as community outreach activities.

The President indicated that following the outbreak of Covid19, HU had contributed 100 million birr to the local community and institutions in an effort to combat the pandemic.

The University is striving to contribute its fair share in accomplishing the country’s plan of registering successive growth as it has reached Dr Jemal added.

State minister of Health, Alemtsehay Paulos, conveyed her message to the graduates.

President of Harari Regional State, Ordin Bedri, advised the graduates to be committed in their profession and serve the community with utmost initiation and humanity.

The President also thanked the graduates for their contribution during their stay in the Region.

Among this year’s graduates,161 are medical doctors, two are specialists and the remaining are first and second degree holders. It was highlighted that 35.7 percent of the graduates are females.

During the graduation ceremony, the University awarded honorary doctorate degrees to Abadula Gemeda (a politician) and Abdulahi Ali Sherif (owner of a private museum in Harar).

It was indicated that the two honorary doctorate degrees related to Honorary Doctorate Degree of Arts (Doctar of Human Letters) Honoris Causa (DHL) fields.

It is to be recalled that HU graduated more than 4,100 students on various fields two weeks ago.

Haramaya University officially launched a project under the title of Dhengego Model Tree Based Restoration Project and conducted Training of Trainers (TOT) for Zone and Woreda Experts on March 11-13, 2021at the Main Campus Resource Center.

The project is expected to be implemented in selected rural Kebeles of East Haraghe Zone.

During the workshop, Professor Mengistu Urge, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Mr. AyalewTakele, Deputy Administrator of East Haraghe zone made opening speeches. Both officials emphasized on the multi-faceted nature of land degradation and its resulting consequences on human wellbeing as well as the development of the nation.The project fund was secured from the Federal Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission, it was indicated.

They also appreciated the initiation of the project and the decision made by the federal EFCCC for financing the project. Both officials confirmed the commitment of their respective offices in providing all the necessary supports at all levels of the project implementation.

According to Dr Tesema Toru, staff member of School of Natural Resources Management & Environmental Sciences and Coordinator of the Project Dhengego Model Tree Based Restoration Project, a team together with Community Development Works Directorate had also conducted a three days TOT training for zonal and woreda experts.

The training topics, presented by members of the University,  include Oromo indigenous knowledge and practice in natural resource conservation in Hararghe context, human nature and natural environment from psychological perspective, deforestation, forest degradation, and restoration, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and economic valuation, soil and water conservation technologies and water harvesting and geospatial technologies.

Besides a field visit was arranged to the project area to familiarize training participants with the selected site.

On the closing ceremony of the training workshop, Mr. Solomon Estifanos, associate dean for College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, emphasized that the project and the College will give the necessary supports.

The Office of Vice President for Research Affairs of Haramaya University conducted a field day on March 15, 2021 at Dakata site in Harobate kebele on irrigated wheat seed multiplication.

The project is successful regardless of repeated locust invasion and other challenges. It was indicated that the University would continue its support to enable the farmers to produce quality certified seeds and would pay premium price to the producers. The arrangement would increase income of the participating farmers while reducing the gap in quality seed supply in East Hararghe Zone and beyond.

During the visit Dr. Tesfaye Lemma, Vice-President for Research Affairs, noted that Ethiopia has huge untapped potential for wheat production in terms of climate, soils, water, and hardworking smallholder farmers. However, Ethiopia spends millions of dollars every year to import wheat to address domestic supply shortfall, he added.

In line with the national initiative to increase the production and productivity of wheat in order to substitute import, Haramaya University initiated the project together with its partners including zonal and woreda levels administration and agriculture and natural resources offices.

The University provided inputs, technology, training, and technical backstopping to the clusters; it was highlighted during the ocassion.

Dr. Tesfaye indicated that discussion was made with partners and Afran Kallo Cooperative Union to sustain and scale out irrigation-based seeds multiplication in the woreda and beyond.

Dr. Dandena Gelmesa, chairman of technical team for irrigation based wheat seed production, Haramaya University is implementing irrigation-based wheat seed production at Haro Bate Kebele of Gursum Woreda in East Hararghe Zone on 60 ha of land organized in two clusters of 67 farmer’s field (four females). Two wheat seed varieties (Kingbird and Wane) were used for seed production.

Dr Dandena highly appreciated the contribution of zonal and woreda level partners and individuals to realize this success.

It was indicated that East Hararghe Zone and Gursum woreda Bureau of Agriculture (BoAs) were key partners that jointly contributed to realise the project success.

According to the Office of Vice President for Research Affairs, the University has provided input supply (basic seed purchase), materials support, on-spot advisory services, training to farmers and woreda experts and technical backstopping and close-up supervision of farmers through team of multidisciplinary experts. Seed Quality Inspection and Certification Centre (SICC)/seed laboratory based at Haramaya University/ have providing quality control services.

On the field day, success stories about wheat seed production were shared by farmers, who previously had limited crop cultivation experiences. Accordingly, the seed will be certified and purchased from the farmers at premium prices as per the agreement signed with farmers through HU Enterprise Directorate Office.

It is expected that at least 45-50 quintal per ha (2700 to 3000 quintal of certified seed, C1) from 60 ha of land will be harvested from farmers and ready to market. This in turn will overcome wheat seed shortage that could happen in Hararghe and beyond for the coming main season.

Among the beneficiaries of the project Farmer Yahaya Yusuf and Farmer Nejat Abidi said they are proud and thanked Haramaya University in providing input supply and materials support because of this they would expect that at least 45-50 quintal per hector and secure their food problems.

After intensive farm visit, all the participants of the event held a meeting and discussed about the efforts and achievements the University and the way forward.

Professor Mengistu Urge, Vice president for Academic Affairs & Delegets of Haramaya University president, remarked that farmers have to use improved technologies to enhance food production, such joint discussions should continue as a culture for the future to design and do fruitful research in a participatory approach.

During the occasion Ato Bikila Letta, deputy administrator of Gursum Woreda and Ato Mikael Abrahim, East Hararge Zone Agriculture and Natural Resource, Irrigation and Agriculture Infrastructure branch head appreciated the efforts of Haramaya University in supporting community.

They promised to give the necessary supports and said that this is the great opportunity for the community to increase the production and productivity of wheat in order to settle their food problems.

Finally Vice President for Research Affairs, Dr. Tesfaye called up on all the remaining farmers and stakeholders to adopt and use the best innovative practices of agricultural production so as to secure sustainability of agricultural research development and production.

Agricultural and Natural Resource Offices, Regional Agricultural Research Centres, Researchers and Academicians from Haramaya University, Regional Seed Enterprise, Farmers’ Cooperatives Union, Extension Offices, media representatives, farmers in the surrounding areas of Hara Bate Kebele and the university community at large were part of the events.

Haramaya University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences conducted Curriculum Review workshop to launch Sugarcane Agronomy MSc Program.

During the opening of the workshop Dean of College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Dr. Zelalem Bekeko expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the committee members who are working on the development of the curriculum through investing their precious time. He also thanked the external reviewers for their instrumental comments they made to enrich the curriculum.

In his speech, the country has not exploited the golden opportunity to produce sugarcane on larger scale and presently grow sugarcane only on 19000 hectares of land contributing merely 0.1% to total world’s sugarcane production.

It is the peak time to promote sugarcane cultivation at a larger scale in the country to harness such a potential production environment for meeting sugar demand in the country and also for export.

Sustaining the production and productivity at high level and also to tackle future problems a highly skilled human resource is needed for research, development and extension activities.

Haramaya University play vital role in development of such a highly skilled man power to meet this needed demand. Keeping this in view, the school of plant sciences of HU is proposing a tailor-made Master degree program specializing in sugarcane agronomy aiming to train the students with the latest and advanced knowledge generated in the field of sugarcane production, protection and crop improvement.

Director for Postgraduate Programs Directorate, Dr.  Feyera  Dinsa said curriculum review process will generate an action plan for improving the program, and the impact of the review will be determined by evidence of implementation success.

He added that the implementation of this curriculum is in the safest hands of experienced professionals in the school and in the college as well as those professionals in the Sugar Corporation.

The collaboration started between HU and the Sugar Corporation becomes exemplary for other universities and industries, as it is a good beginning for the strengthening of University-Industry Linkages.

The workshop was attended by invited guests from Haramaya University’s different colleges and institutions, Ethiopian Sugar Corporation and a series of reflections and discussions were made by the participants. And will incorporate into the curriculum.

The program will be jointly run by Haramaya University and Ethiopian Sugar Corporation.

Haramaya university,  College of natural and computational sciences, Department of Chemistry received an invitation to attend a course on  “Natural Product and Drug Synthesis” by Prof. Oliver Reiser  at the University of Regensberg, Germany. This course will be delivered in “online” mode. The interested students can use the link provided below and in quick links section of the Haramaya university website.

The targeted students are chemistry, pharmacy, food science and food technology, and biology… etc

Invitation to attend a course on “Natural Product and Drug Synthesis”

The 37th and 38th Annual Research and Extension Review Workshop were conducted from April 8-9, 2021 at Haramaya University’s Afran Kallo Hall on the Main Campus under the theme “Research for Community Transformation and Sustainable Development.”

The annual workshop was co-organized by Haramaya University Office of the Vice President for Research Affairs and Office of the Vice President for Community Engagement and Enterprise Development.

The workshop was conducted to review results of the research, extension, and community engagement activities implemented over the last two years by the University with local, regional, national, and international partners and stakeholders. In addition, the platform was created to deliberate on priority focus areas both for research and community engagement programs.

Dr. Tesfaye Lemma, Vice President for Research Affairs, warmly welcomed the guests and the participants. In his speech, Dr. Tesfaye outlined key initiatives since he took office in mid December 2020 to motivate researchers, increase resource mobilization, improve research process management and enhance partnership for research-cum- development. He further underlined that there is urgent need to realign the thematic research areas with recently launched University Strategic Plan and the national transformation agenda.

Prof. Mengistu Urge, Vice President for Academic Affairs and delegate of the President of the University, reaffirmed commitment of the leadership to further strengthen the capacity needed to conduct problem-solving and cutting-edge research. He reiterated the need to move from piecemeal approach in research to more multi-and trans- disciplinary research programs and projects to enhance research impact and research productivity in terms of publications on high quality indexed journals.

Dr. Yesihak Yusuf Mummad, Vice President for Community Engagement and Enterprise Development, welcomed the participants and presented an overview of key results of activities carried out at grass-roots level in collaboration with government and non-government organizations in East Hararghe Zone.

The New Business Idea Competition launched recently to encourage young entrepreneurs was presented as one of the innovative and promising initiative of the office.

Status and key achievements with regard to research extension and publication was presented by Dr. Deribachew Bekana, Director of Research Groups and Partnership at the Research Office.

About 200 participants invited from government and non-government organizations in East Hararghe Zone, farmers’ cooperatives, and Haramaya University researchers and support staff attended the workshop.

Important feedback and suggestions were provided by partners and stakeholders with regard to priority focus areas for both research and community engagement activities. The participants appreciated the University for its tangible contribution so far and requested  for more support in terms of knowledge and technology, particularly for lowland areas.

An exhibition displaying the various research, extension and community engagement activities of the University and its various organs was held and the response and feedback from the attendees was encouraging.

Chief Editors, associate editors, and editorial managers of the five journals of the University were recognized during the occasion.

Professor Mengistu Urgie and Dr. Tesfaye Lemma handed over the certificates and tablets, and thanked the President’s Office for the support provided.

Representing the recognized editors, Professor Nigussie Dechassa appreciated the management and underlined the importance of such recognition to promote commitment and outstanding performance among the staff in different areas.

In his closing remarks, Professor Jeyilan Woliye, Vice President for Administration & Student Affairs emphasized that the primary focus of research universities including Haramaya should be the generation of edge and innovation through applied and basic research. Such universities should serve as drivers of innovation and social transformation. Effective research communication and increased visibility is important, he added.

Haramaya has recently been designated as one of the eight research universities in Ethiopia by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

The Office of the Vice President for Research Affairs of Haramaya University organized an event to recognize editorial board members of the five academic journals.

According to Chanyalew Seyoum (PhD), Director for Research Extension and Publication, the University currently runs five journals, namely, East African Journal of Sciences, Haramaya Law Review, East African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, East African Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences, and East African Journal of Animal and Veterinary Science. Of these journals, East African Journal of Sciences, Haramaya Law Review, and East African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities are among the first nationally accredited journals in Ethiopia on December, 2020 by Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MOSHE).

The University Research Extension and Publication Office truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of the editorial board members for this achievement, the Office announced.

The Office also appreciates the continuous support of the University management, reviewers, technical editors, authors, and other stakeholders who directly and indirectly contributed in this achievement. According to Dr Chanyalew Seyoum,  the current editorial members of the journals were honored for their professional contribution and outstanding achievement. He further indicated that the editorial board members are working hard to further enhance the quality of the journals which will in turn improve University’s visibility at national and international levels.

The research office recognized editorial board members of EAJS (Professor Nigussie Dechassa, Professor Mengistu Ketema, and Dr Habtamu Terefe), editorial board members of HLR (Dr Richard Wentzell, Mr Gadisa Tesfaye, Mr Serkalem Eshetie), editorial board members of EAJSSH (Dr Adinew Tadesse, Dr Gutema Emana and Mr Birhanu Midekso), editorial board members of EAJHBS (Dr Bizatu Mengistie, Mr Zelalem Teklemariam, and Mr Teshager Worku), and editorial board members of EAJVAS (Professor Mengistu Urge, Dr Birhanu Sibhat, and Dr Buruk Abreha).

Dr Chanyalew reaffirmed that his office will continue supporting the endeavors of the editorial board members in further improving the quality of the journals. The Office will work together with the editorial board members in improving the online management of the journals as well as indexing the journals in internationally reputable indexing data basis.

During the ceremony, one of the recognized editors, Professor Nigussie  Dechassa, appreciated the management and underlined the importance of such recognition to promote commitment and outstanding performance among the staff  in different areas.

A National Curriculum Review for home grown PhD program was held at Haramaya University in the building College of Agriculture the University on April 9, 2021.

Haramaya University is a pioneer higher learning institution which has been actively involved in research activities, primarily in the fields of agriculture, since its inception. Through the years, the institution has established linkages with national and international organizations to strengthen its academic, research and outreach activities.

As a pioneer institution of agricultural teaching, research and extension in Ethiopia, over the last 65 years, Haramaya University has developed and released several improved crop varieties and many improved crop and livestock management practices.

According to Zelalem Bekeko (PD), Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, currently there is an urgent need for the University to make efforts to link its academic programs to its research and outreach activities in order to make its training programs relevant to the needs of the stakeholders and the country at large. This requires the need to make proper linkages with various stakeholders that include the rural community, urban dwellers, the private sector, governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations at national and international levels, he explained. In this regard, the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is a fulcrum of the agricultural innovation and rural transformation in the country through undertaking agricultural education and research activities, the Dean added.

The original curriculum of the College catered for producing graduates in B.Sc. in general agriculture; however, the quest for keeping up with the training needs of the country led to the development of new programs of study, such as Animal Science (1960), Plant Science (1960), Agricultural Engineering (1961), Agricultural Economics (1962), and Agricultural Education (1967), and diploma in Home Economics (1967). Then, a BSc program in Agricultural Extension was started in 1994 which was later renamed as Rural Development and Agricultural Extension.

A major landmark in the history of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences was the launching of graduate study programs in the 1979/80 academic year. This laid down the foundation for advanced academic and research work at the institution.

Currently, the College is running more than 10, 28 and 14 BSc, MSc and PhD programs, respectively under five schools. The running of these programs in the College has tremendously contributed to the upgrading of the University to be one of the research and post graduate level higher learning institutions in the country. Congratulations!!

Currently, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) of Ethiopia has undertaken reform initiatives to address the challenges. Among the initiatives, the policy and strategies for higher education and training are revised in which professors in academia, senior experts in different areas, various industries including private sectors, regional government and respective bureaus of education and training, and higher education institutions (HEIs) have actively engaged through the home grown collaborative PhD program.

Home-Grown Collaborative PhD Program (HCPP) is a doctoral program in which different HEIs work collaboratively through sharing their staff, finance, infrastructure and facilities to run the doctoral program. It gives wider opportunity to PhD students to work with supervisors, mentors and peers from different disciplines and institutions.

It mobilizes professors in academia, research, industry and Diaspora to teach, supervise and mentor the PhD students across all host and co-host universities in Ethiopia. HCPP will use available local and international research infrastructure and facilities (laboratories, workshops, instruments, experiences, knowledge, expertise skill etc) through collaboration, relationship and networking.

It also promotes local collaboration between public-public and public-private institutions. Its financial resources will be mobilized from partners, donors, stakeholders and government through grant, joint projects/research, donation, and other means of funding via inter-institutional agreements.

HCPP gives wider opportunity for private sectors to jointly establish national advanced provide/get scientific services providing laboratories and workshops while undertaking PhD research activities.

Therefore, HCPP is beyond enhancing relevance and quality of PhD programs in HEIs. It will foster sustainable local and international collaboration and partnership among institutions, build in home capacity for research and advanced scientific services, increase efficiency of the system through holistic resource sharing, integrate research and academia with industry and national development priorities, helps to coordinate multi-sect oral moves with national priorities.

Through this program the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is vested in power to host and co-host various PhD programs ( Animal Breeding and Genetics, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Agronomy, Horticulture,  Plant Pathology, Agricultural Entomology, Dairy Science and Technology, Applied Soil Sciences, Rural Development, Agric business and Value Chain Management).

The launching of these programs in the College enhances and boosts the visibility of Haramaya University. It also helps the institution to align its research and community service resources (human, financial and material) with this program.  In addition it also contributes in transforming the capacity of the institution for advanced scientific service delivery and materializes the program sustainability. The development sectors and/or industries will also benefit immensely from HCPP through research outputs and advanced scientific service delivery since the thematic research areas are in line with national development priorities.

Dr. Zelalem emphasized that College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences can strongly host and co-host the envisioned PhD programs in the upcoming five years and realize the vision of the Haramaya University.

A National Curriculum Review for home grown PhD program was held at Haramaya University in the building College of Agriculture the University on April 9, 2021.

Haramaya University is a pioneer higher learning institution which has been actively involved in research activities, primarily in the fields of agriculture, since its inception. Through the years, the institution has established linkages with national and international organizations to strengthen its academic, research and outreach activities.

As a pioneer institution of agricultural teaching, research and extension in Ethiopia, over the last 65 years, Haramaya University has developed and released several improved crop varieties and many improved crop and livestock management practices.

According to Zelalem Bekeko (PD), Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, currently there is an urgent need for the University to make efforts to link its academic programs to its research and outreach activities in order to make its training programs relevant to the needs of the stakeholders and the country at large. This requires the need to make proper linkages with various stakeholders that include the rural community, urban dwellers, the private sector, governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations at national and international levels, he explained. In this regard, the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is a fulcrum of the agricultural innovation and rural transformation in the country through undertaking agricultural education and research activities, the Dean added.

The original curriculum of the College catered for producing graduates in B.Sc. in general agriculture; however, the quest for keeping up with the training needs of the country led to the development of new programs of study, such as Animal Science (1960), Plant Science (1960), Agricultural Engineering (1961), Agricultural Economics (1962), and Agricultural Education (1967), and diploma in Home Economics (1967). Then, a BSc program in Agricultural Extension was started in 1994 which was later renamed as Rural Development and Agricultural Extension.

A major landmark in the history of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences was the launching of graduate study programs in the 1979/80 academic year. This laid down the foundation for advanced academic and research work at the institution.

Currently, the College is running more than 10, 28 and 14 BSc, MSc and PhD programs, respectively under five schools. The running of these programs in the College has tremendously contributed to the upgrading of the University to be one of the research and post graduate level higher learning institutions in the country. Congratulations!!

Currently, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) of Ethiopia has undertaken reform initiatives to address the challenges. Among the initiatives, the policy and strategies for higher education and training are revised in which professors in academia, senior experts in different areas, various industries including private sectors, regional government and respective bureaus of education and training, and higher education institutions (HEIs) have actively engaged through the home grown collaborative PhD program.

Home-Grown Collaborative PhD Program (HCPP) is a doctoral program in which different HEIs work collaboratively through sharing their staff, finance, infrastructure and facilities to run the doctoral program. It gives wider opportunity to PhD students to work with supervisors, mentors and peers from different disciplines and institutions.

It mobilizes professors in academia, research, industry and Diaspora to teach, supervise and mentor the PhD students across all host and co-host universities in Ethiopia. HCPP will use available local and international research infrastructure and facilities (laboratories, workshops, instruments, experiences, knowledge, expertise skill etc) through collaboration, relationship and networking.

It also promotes local collaboration between public-public and public-private institutions. Its financial resources will be mobilized from partners, donors, stakeholders and government through grant, joint projects/research, donation, and other means of funding via inter-institutional agreements.

HCPP gives wider opportunity for private sectors to jointly establish national advanced provide/get scientific services providing laboratories and workshops while undertaking PhD research activities.

Therefore, HCPP is beyond enhancing relevance and quality of PhD programs in HEIs. It will foster sustainable local and international collaboration and partnership among institutions, build in home capacity for research and advanced scientific services, increase efficiency of the system through holistic resource sharing, integrate research and academia with industry and national development priorities, helps to coordinate multi-sect oral moves with national priorities.

Through this program the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is vested in power to host and co-host various PhD programs ( Animal Breeding and Genetics, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Agronomy, Horticulture,  Plant Pathology, Agricultural Entomology, Dairy Science and Technology, Applied Soil Sciences, Rural Development, Agric business and Value Chain Management).

The launching of these programs in the College enhances and boosts the visibility of Haramaya University. It also helps the institution to align its research and community service resources (human, financial and material) with this program.  In addition it also contributes in transforming the capacity of the institution for advanced scientific service delivery and materializes the program sustainability. The development sectors and/or industries will also benefit immensely from HCPP through research outputs and advanced scientific service delivery since the thematic research areas are in line with national development priorities.

Dr. Zelalem emphasized that College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences can strongly host and co-host the envisioned PhD programs in the upcoming five years and realize the vision of the Haramaya University.

Haramaya University in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education hosted a national curriculum review workshop on Agriculture and related undergraduate Programs. The workshop was held as per Covide-19 protocol at Haramaya University Health and Medical Science College in Harar on April 13 and 14, 2021.

Professor Mengistu Urge, vice president of academic affairs, said that the freshman courses were reviewed last year as per the newly arranged higher education program (12+4) and it is on function now.  Professor Mengistu added that the second year Agriculture and other 13 related undergraduate Program courses are now being reviewed by well experienced instructors, researchers, and other stakeholders in the area.

According to Professor Menigstu, the objective of the workshop is to review and validate the newly developed curriculum with the previous one. The newly developed curriculum is designed to synchronize the theory and practice, to equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude so that it will increase the competitiveness of the graduates in their area to add values in the country’s agricultural development program.

Dr. Zelalem Bekeko, the dean of college of Agriculture and environmental science, in his turn, said that, in this curriculum review workshop, all stakeholders from different sectors were invited and presented their ideas. As Dr. Zelalem said, the curriculum review is needed to harmonize the courses when the academic year increases from 12+3 to 12+4 and to include some necessary subjects and valuable points. He also added that, after the validation of the courses curriculum, it will be distributed to other Universities to make it functional, and this, in its turn, will reduce the course variations from University to University in similar courses.

According to Dr. Zelalem, in order to improve the agricultural sector, the trainees should be trained by a timely and well-designed curriculum which can equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills in their discipline just like the curriculum being reviewed.

At the workshop, Mr. Mekonen Tadesse, programs and curriculum senior expert from the ministry of science and higher education, said, “The designed curriculum should answer the employers and industries’ needs.” As a result, the industry owners should be invited to participate in the curriculum review and give their feedback about the designed curriculum in respect to their needs as they know how the graduates are competent enough in their area of study.

Mr. Besufekad H/Mariyam, the other higher education program and curriculum directorate expert from ministry of Science and Higher Education, strengthened Mr. Mekonen’s idea by stating that there are over 250 undergraduate programs in Ethiopia and the previous programs have been being reviewed in all Universities since last year, and it is already on function.

Mr. Besufekad added that the recent second year course curriculum review has been done virtually for a long time and the last curriculum validation review has been prepared for face to face review with employers and it helps to collect witnesses, comments and suggestions from all stakeholders.  Similarly, the other (out of Agriculture and related fields) course curriculums will be reviewed in seven different centers (seven Universities) in April, 2021 as per Covid-19 protocols. Curriculum review of Agriculture and other related fields, business and Economics, Health, Engineering, Water related fields, and Social science are being hosted and will be hosted by Haramaya University, Addis Ababa University, Gonder University, Bahirdar and Debremarkos Universities, Arbaminch University, and Dila University respectively..

Dr. Solomon Abate, from Ethiopian Agricultural Research Center, said that he has observed that the modular system in plant science (his field of study) before has now changed to a semester based teaching system, and some new courses have been added. Dr. Solomon interestingly added that he hopes that the new curriculum will bring changes on the trainees’ knowledge, skills and attitude if it is implemented in an appropriate manner.

Dr. Mehamed Worku, plant science program instructor and researcher from Jima University and Dr. Herut Yerga Animal and Range Science school head from Haramaya University said that the reviewed curriculum is very good, well organized and timely. They further stated that if the necessary facilities are fulfilled to implement it, it will contribute a lot to the country’s agricultural development program.     

Overall, eight agricultural and five agricultural-related undergraduate curriculums were reviewed in a national curriculum revision workshop hosted by Haremaya University in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

By: Aweke Ayalneh

Public and International Relations Directorate

Haramaya university,  College of natural and computational sciences, Department of Chemistry received an invitation to attend a course on  “Natural Product and Drug Synthesis” by Prof. Oliver Reiser  at the University of Regensberg, Germany. This course will be delivered in “online” mode. The interested students can use the link provided below and in quick links section of the Haramaya university website.

The targeted students are chemistry, pharmacy, food science and food technology, and biology… etc

Invitation to attend a course on “Natural Product and Drug Synthesis”

NEMEDUSSA CONSORTIUM ADVANCING NEMATOLOGY EDUCATION IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA

To develop the research and educational capacity in Sub-Sahara Africa in the field of nematology, or the study of roundworms, a joint Erasmus+ KA2 project was recently launched. The Erasmus+ project, Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE): Nematology Education in Sub-Sahara Africa (NEMEDUSSA), is a joint effort by a consortium of Universities from Sub-Sahara Africa and Europe.

This three-year project (2021-2023) is co-funded by the European Union (Erasmus+ KA2 CBHE) and VLIR-UOS, and is linked to the objectives of the Erasmus+ Programme. The aims are to encourage cooperation between the EU and Partner Countries and support eligible Partner Countries in addressing challenges in the management and governance of their higher education institutions.

Specifically, NEMEDUSSA aims to increase awareness of nematodes and expand educational and research capacities in higher education and other institutions in Sub-Sahara Africa in this field. Nematodes or roundworms cause significant damage and yield loss to a wide variety of crops often together with other pathogens. Unfortunately, nematodes are often overlooked or misdiagnosed, resulting in the unnecessary use of unhealthy agro-chemicals. Nematodes can also be used as bio-control agents against insect pests and/or as bio-control agents for environmental health and biodiversity.

Despite the profound adverse impact plant-parasitic nematodes have on productivity worldwide, it is striking how concealed the discipline of nematology has remained, particularly in Sub-Sahara Africa. This project aims to address the need for increased capacity and specialised training in handling these pathogens, so that plant-parasitic nematodes are managed correctly and beneficial nematodes can be implemented as biocontrol organisms.

To achieve this, the project focuses on 6 core activities:

• Developing Curricula. Develop curricula in nematology on BSc and MSc level for the integration into existing educational programmes in English and French, for both lecturers and students.
• Training Staff. Improve the nematological expertise of academic and technical staff to enhance teaching capacity.
• Upgrading lab facilities. Increase the number of student microscopes, lab and demonstration equipment to augment hands-on training.
• Nematology digital learning platform. Develop an open-access platform to share and disseminate nematological knowledge, develop curricular modules, knowledge clips, etc.
• Nematology Network. Enhance cooperation between nematologists in Sub-Sahara Africa by providing networking tools, workshops on relevant topics in nematology and sharing good practices in education, promoting collaboration with a focus on young nematologists.
• Creating awareness. Facilitate dissemination activities and involve a range of different stakeholders such as farmers, extension service workers, policy makers, students and private and public sector.

Ghent University (Belgium) coordinates NEMEDUSSA, in cooperation with:

• University Abomey-Calavi, Benin
• University of Parakou, Benin
• Haramaya University, Ethiopia
• Jimma University, Ethiopia
• Kenyatta University, Kenya
• Moi University, Kenya
• Ahmadu-Bello University, Nigeria
• University of Ibadan, Nigeria
• North West University, South Africa
• Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Makerere University, Uganda
• Muni University, Uganda
• University Côte d’Azur, France

The work of this project is further supported by 36 associated partners from the private and public sectors in Sub-Sahara Africa.

For more information about the NEMEDUSSA project, please see www.nemedussa.ugent.be or contact us at nemedussa@ugent.be.

The Project Manager for Haramaya University is Awol Seid (Ph.D) for any further enquiry about the project he can be contacted at awolseid07@gmail.com.

Haramaya University in collaboration with the Development Fund of Norway conducted a field day at Erer Woreda, Garasley Kebele in the presence of farmers, researchers and other stakeholders on 17th April 2021

During the occasion, Dr. Tesfaye Lemma, Vice-President for Research Affairs and a coordinator of the project noted that participatory action research (PAR) for enhancing food security and resilience in dry land areas of eastern Ethiopia implemented in Erer district by Haramaya University with grant from the Development Fund of Norway has reportedly delivered promising results.

Dr.Tesfaye added that the project provided key technologies and success stories including improved crop varieties, OFSP, improved dual purpose chicken breeds, and improved animal feed varieties were displayed to the farmers and stakeholders.

Dr. Tesfaye extended his gratitude to the committed and hard working team of the project in feedbacking from the agro-pastoralists, district officials and experts who participated on the field day and also said that a development is a process requiring patience.

Practicing participatory process in real life setting is more difficult than teaching and talking about it- easier said than done, he added.

According to Dr. Dandena Gelmesa,Researcher & Assistant Professor at Haramaya University, RAR team member, the main goal of the project is to enhance food security and climate change adaptation of agro-pastoralists and pastoralists in dryland areas of eastern Ethiopia to generate evidence-based knowledge in the areas of agricultural production, sustainable natural resource management, and climate change adaptation that can be used by agro-pastoralists and pastoralists to improve their food and livelihood security, and by CSOs, government agencies and other development actors to increase the impact of their programs and policies.

The purpose of the field day is to share best practices and experiences of PAR technologies to different stakeholders and agro-pastoralist, enhance networking and experiences among agro-pastoralist, researchers and extension workers so that they build network for further technology dissemination, enhance further collaboration among different partners for technology dissemination, evaluate performance of different technologies demonstrated at in the project kebeles, enhance agro-pastoralist skill on how to prepare and utilize different food recipes from the demonstrated crops (e.g. Orange fleshed sweet potato) and chicken technologies as well as to enable development agents and extension workers to take over the activities and scale-out/up successful technologies, management options, and processes by mainstreaming into their regular extension activities, it was indicated during the occasion.

During the feild day, Dr. Meseret Girma, Principal Investigator of Poultry Research of the Project, on her part said that the action research is conducted at Sitti Zone, Erer Woreda, Gereslay and Germam Kebele.

She added 14 female agro pastoralist selected for poultry activity and problem identification is performed will be conducted. Subsequently, training, research and finally dissemination of chicken, modern house, chicken feed and drug will be carried out.

Dr Meseret said that white leghorn and koekoek breed were distributed for 14 female farmers.The distributed chicken started laying eggs and the farmers had started selling eggs, feces of chicken. They had also started collecting income and used the egg for family food consumption.

Dr. Meseret added that in the near future the University will prepare poultry related technology and distribute for the rest of the kebeles under Erer woreda.

Among the beneficiaries of the project, farmers such as Mohammed Ibrahim, Mohammed Abdo, Hawa Mohammed and Shartu Jemal said they are proud and thanked the project and the University for providing input supply and materials support beside demonstrating and disseminating different crops, livestock and forage technologies and in sharing experiences.

After intensive farm visit, all the participants of the event held a meeting and discussed about the efforts and achievements of the University and the way forward by the concerned bodies and remarked that farmers have to use improved technologies to enhance their food security.

During the occasion, Ato Hasan  Ese, administrator of Erer Woreda and Ato Mohammed Ahmed, delegate of Erer Woreda Agriculture and Natural Resource Office, appreciated the efforts of Haramaya University in supporting the community. They promised to give the necessary support and said that this is the great opportunity for the community to enhance food security and climate change adaptation of agro-pastoralists and pastoralists by increasing the production and productivity in order to settle their food security.

The University announces that it has launched SNBSS by receiving 77 students Haramaya University announces that it has launched a Special Non-Boarding Secondary School (HUSNBSS) in its main campus in February 2021 by receiving seventy seven (77) grade 9 students from districts in Eastern Hararge Zone, who were high scorers at the last year’s grade 8^th ministry exam.

Professor Mengistu Urge, vice president for academic affairs and a delegate for the University president, said that depending on the directions and advice from Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MOSHE) and Oromia Regional State Government, special non boarding secondary school has been established in the University’s main campus in this academic year (2013 EC).

According to Professor Menigstu, the objective of opening the special non boarding secondary school is to provide a quality education for highly talented students who scored high in the last year’s grade 8^th Ministry exam and who were able to pass the entrance exam prepared by Oromia Regional Education bureau. This is expected to support an effort by the government to improve the quality of Education and enhance the university’s ability to expand its outreach services to community children. The school teaches the students by synchronizing theory with practice as stipulated in their syllabuses. Learning in the special school is vital in helping the students to exploit and increase their talents which in turn will contribute to the country’s need to produce an advanced scientist and specialists who will achieve a great deal for themselves as well as their country  said Professor Mengistu.

Professor Mengistu added that, currently the school has started its teaching-learning processes in the University’s Sport Academy vacant classes, and in a near future its own separate and standard school will be built in the premises of the main campus. The University is providing free Education, necessary Educational materials and free lunch for the students based on the manual sent from Oromia Region Education Bureau which was used as a blue print to establish the school.

Mr. Ahmed Dedo (Assistant Professor), the director of the school, in his turn said that, we have received seventy seven (77) students ( of which 17 are females) from different districts in East Harerge zone, and the students are selected based on criteria prepared by Oromia Regional Education bureau which requires each of the students having excellent English , Mathematics and Afan Oromo subject results in their grade 7 and 8 transcripts as well as grade 8 regional examination and passing regional level entrance exam.

The teaching-learning process has started two months ago and the final exam is approaching, the students’ performance is incredible and improving time to time. The qualifications of the teachers that were employed are all master degree holders except two of them, and this contributes to provide quality education to the students. The school has a new library, an ICT laboratory, classrooms and well equipped offices for the teachers which are all contributing towards creating quality students. For this year, the school has started from grade nine (9) and it will admit grade nine students every year and in the meantime our school will have students up to grade twelve (12).  Mr. Ahmed added that the University is going to provide school Uniform, two for each of the students, and it is on the purchasing process. Over all, apart from salaries for teachers and supportive staffs and students’ lunch service, the university has spent more than 6 million birr to furnish a library, an ICT Lab, offices and classrooms along with the necessary books, computers and furniture.

Mr. Awol Haji Wado, an ICT teacher, said that “first of all I want to extend my thanks for those concerned bodies who facilitated in establishing the special secondary school in the University, because we did not get this kind of opportunity when we were students. This is very nice advantage for the students”. Mr. Awol added that, the students’ interest to learn and their learning capacity in relation to ICT is very appreciable, the school infrastructures are full and interesting, computers and students ratio is one to one in the ICT laboratory. For the other laboratory needs, the students are using laboratories found in the university, until the school will establish its own full laboratories, in the new school which will be built soon” said Mr. Awol.

Ermiyas Fasil, Latera Fikadu and other grade 9^th students said that, “In this special school ICT, Library, Laboratories, the teachers’ quality, all infrastructures are fully equipped and the way the teaching-learning system is going on is very interesting and it motivates us to work hard and to exploit our minds. In Addition, we get our lunch in the campus cafeteria which makes us to feel like our home.” The students lastly explain their gratitude to the wonderful all rounded service in the HU Special Non Boarding Secondary school and to all concerned participants in the realization of the school.

Haramaya University College of Natural and Computational Sciences Conducted National Curricula Review and Validation Workshop of PhD in Mathematics and BSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MBBT) respectively at the University’s Senate Hall on June 11,2021.

Dr. Getachew Abebe, Dean of College of Natural and Computational Sciences of Haramaya University, expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the committee members who worked hard on the development of the curriculum through investing their precious time.

Dr. Getachew said that curriculum development is not an easy task and has to be well planned and be purposeful. “If we are working on it, we need to process at the back of our memory; whether our curriculum could help the students achieve the intended learning competence or not,” he added.

Dr Getached added that these curriculum needs to serve as the roadmap to ensure integrated, coherent learning experiences of the student. It contributes towards their personal, academic and professional learning and development of the learners. In short it is supposed to bring meaningful overall attitudinal change, according to Dr Getachew.

Prof. Mengistu Urge, Vice President for Academic Affairs, on his opening speech thanked and appreciated the concerns and contributions of the reviewers and said that since Haramaya University is one of the research universities which are striving to achieve the Ministor of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) goals in planning and working towards fulfilling the criteria.

All the curricula in Haramaya University, specifically currently prepared by the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, were also internally and externally revised. They were also approved by Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA).

The revised curriculums went through an internal institutional review and were evaluated externally by Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA).

Prof. Mengistu added that although the outcome hasn’t been known yet, Haramaya University was benchmarked by the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) for being ranked in the system of sub-African Universities. “These assessments help us in identifying our gaps for our anticipated action regardless of the results we may get,” he added. This PhD curriculum in Mathematics is timely and it is according to the need and the plan of the University.

The workshop was attended by guests from internal and external reviewers, examiners as well as the academic community of HU. Constructive Comments and suggestions were forwarded from the reviewers and the participants.

University-Industry Linkage and Entrepreneurship Development Directorate of Haramaya University in collaboration with Entrepreneurship Development Center (EDC)-Ethiopia delivered Business Development Service (BDS) training to 25 farmers invited from different districts of Eastern Hararaghe Zone.

The training was delivered by professionals from EDC-Ethiopia and Haramaya University.

According to Dr. Mitiku Eshetu, Director for University-Industry Linkage and Entrepreneurship Development (UILED), these farmers had taken entrepreneurship training workshop and this round they took a training which is continuation of the previous training.

According to the Director, the current BSD training has different training parts in which the famers acquire knowledge and skill about business plans, agricultural products marketing, human resource development and management, and financial planning and management.

He added that the training is practice-oriented planned to solve farmers’ business bottlenecks such as lack of financial transaction record keeping, financial liquidity, lack of know how about financial management and cash flow.

Dr. Mitiku addressed the participants of the training to give due attention to the training as the training is meant to promote agricultural transformation through the concept of farming as a business.

Mostly farming is done to feed that farming household, but it should be seen as a business that can be done by applying personal entrepreneurship competencies as well as BDS, it was indicated.

BDS teaches about the importance of business plan which include market analysis, customer analysis, financial planning and management, human resource management and development, and application of financial record keeping to monitor and control profitability of agricultural business, it was highlighted.

Trained farmers were also advised to share what they acquired in this training to their families, neighbors, kebeles and district farmers so that others could learn and multiply the concept of BDS.

Finally, the participants of the training gave their feedback by emphasizing the role of Haramaya University to bring tangible economic development to their agricultural business and they requested the University to continue such trainings and consultancy services while applying knowledge and skill they acquired from this training.

Moreover, the farmers appreciated and praised the University and EDC-Ethiopia for such game changing training.”If I had received this training 10 years ago, I would have been at higher level as an investor,” one of the trainees said.

It was stressed during the occasion that this training can bring breakthrough in agricultural business development and in transforming the agricultural sector of the country from subsistence oriented to business oriented agricultural activity.