Haramaya University Reviews and Develops New Graduate Programs
Haramaya University’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) recently held a curriculum review workshop, focusing on enhancing existing graduate programs and introducing a new PhD program.
On January 30, 2025, a workshop was held at the university’s main campus to discuss the development of a PhD program in Sociology. This program will include specializations in Development Sociology and Urban Sociology. Additionally, revisions were proposed for the MA programs in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and Afan Oromo. The updated Afan Oromo program will offer specializations in Teaching, Linguistics, and Literature.
Dr. Mohammed Hassan, Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH), highlighted the significance of reviewing and developing the curriculum to meet this objective. He mentioned that the college is actively working on introducing new programs that are timely and in demand. Additionally, he noted that faculty members have thoroughly reviewed the existing curricula for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and Afan Oromo, making them ready for external evaluation.
Professor Mengistu Urge, Vice President of Academic Affairs, emphasized the importance of these developments in the university’s 10-year strategic plan and the Ministry of Education’s initiative to differentiate public universities. He explained that the plan aims to significantly increase the number of PhD and Master’s programs, to reach at least 30% of total student enrollment at the postgraduate level.The university aims to expand its offerings by increasing the number of PhD programs to approximately 100 and Master’s programs to around 200 by the end of the strategic period.
Professor Mengistu highlighted that Haramaya University currently provides a diverse array of programs, including 72 undergraduate programs, 137 Master’s programs, and 46 PhD programs, in addition to various specialty and sub-specialty programs. He also noted that the university’s existing human resources, facilities, and both national and international collaborations will support this expansion.
Developing the PhD program in Sociology and revising the MA programs in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and Afan Oromo are essential steps to align with both the university’s and national strategies. The university acknowledges the importance of addressing gaps in higher education and updating existing programs to meet current demands
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Dr. Meseret Amde, the Academic Program Director, expressed his gratitude to the CSSH and the curriculum designers for their efforts. He emphasized the significance of well-structured and relevant curricula in guiding students and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to ongoing review and improvement. He also noted that the workshop offered valuable insights for developing an action plan to further enhance the programs.
The workshop included presentations on five curriculum documents, followed by discussions, feedback, and suggestions from participants. The participants emphasized that the success of these programs depends on effective implementation and ongoing evaluation.
Reporter: Shemsedin Mohammad
Photographer: Tewodros Lishan
Haramaya University Public and International Relations Directorate