Ethiopian new public universities: achievements, challenges and illustrative case studies

In a recent article in Quality Assurance in Education MSM assistant professor Dr. Rita van Deuren and three Ethiopian co-authors analyze, describe and illustrate achievements, challenges and illustrative case studies of three Ethiopian new public universities.

The article results from research cooperation as part of the Dutch funded University Leadership & Management Capacity Development project undertaken by MSM.

(Photo: Entrance Aksum University by Ms. Rita van Deuren)

The article describes the achievements and challenges of the Ethiopian higher education system, based on literature review and secondary data. Also, three illustrative case studies, each highlighting various aspects of growth and challenges at university level, come from three recently founded new public universities: Aksum University, Jigjiga University and Woilata Sodo University.

In recent years the Ethiopian higher education system has undergone remarkable achievements in expanding enrollments in higher education. Is has done so by enlarging existing universities and by erecting new public universities in various parts of the country. However, Ethiopian universities are also confronted with numerous challenges such as funding, staffing, gender issues, educational quality and relevance and limited research and community service activities.

The three case illustrate achievements, struggles and plans to enhance performance and impact for national socio-economic development at university level. All three universities have been able to rapidly increase enrollments in recent years by expanding existing programs and by developing new programs, while at the same time struggling with lack of human, physical, academic and financial resources. However, the case studies also show universities are able to develop the capacity of the university organization for improved performance.

A number of conclusions result from the study. First, the achievements of the Ethiopian higher education system clearly lead to increased access to higher education for regular students and for non-regular students. Second, while spreading universities evenly over the country seems not always in the interest of students and staff, it clearly has advantages for the local communities, such as delivering degree education to non-regular students in the region, offering health and legal services to the local community, increased employment opportunities for administrative and support staff, improved infrastructure and, although still limited, research contributing to local socioeconomic development. And third, there is a clear need to carefully monitor the balance between expansions on the one hand and the quality and required inputs and resources on the other hand. There is crucial role to play for the national government and higher education councils in this respect.

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