By Sileshi Yilma/Public &International Relations Directorate

The School of Animal and Range Sciences conducted BSc curriculum revision workshop in Range Management and Eco-tourism (RMET), which later was modified in to Range Ecology and Biodiversity (REBD), on August 19, 2014 at Haramaya University’s Resource Center.

Dr. Mitiku Eshetu, head of School of Animal and Range Sciences, in his introductory remark said this program was launched seven years ago and the third batch graduated in July 2014. The revision of this curriculum was initiated based on the complaint of students concerning its naming and job opportunity, he added.

Following the complaint, the School set up a committee to undertake tracer study and come up with recommendations. Based on the outcome of the tracer study, the School decided to revise the program and developed the revised version as BSc program in Range Ecology and Biodiversity, Dr Mitiku explained.

The School of Animal and Range Sciences organized this curriculum review workshop by inviting external reviewer from International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Three internal reviewers, including pedagogical reviewer, were also involved from the University.

Pertinent comments and suggestions, which will help the School to develop a standard and up to date modular curriculum, were forwarded by the reviewers and participants of the workshop.

According to the information sent to HU Online, the curriculum was developed following a modularized approach.

The School indicated that the revised BSc program will be launched in the 2014/15 academic year if approved by the University’s Senate. The School added that on June 30, 2014 the School had organized curriculum review workshop and revised MSc program in Range Ecology and Management and modified it into MSc in Range Ecology and Biodiversity. In the same workshop PhD in Range Ecology and Dryland Biodiversity curriculum was evaluated by internal as well as external reviewers. Currently these two curricula are awaiting the approval of the Senate. If approved, the programs will be launched in the 2014/15 academic year.

Last year the School had developed two curricula, MSc and PhD in Dairy Technology that were launched in 2013/14 academic year. These two curricula have been developed and lunched in collaboration with Copenhagen University Dairy Technology group, Denmark, through DANIDA sponsored Haramaya Camel Dairy Project. Currently four MSc and two PhD students have completed their course work in sandwich program and are developing proposals to pursue their thesis research work in Dairy Technology. This program is mainly aimed to build the capacity of Haramaya University in Dairy Technology through sharing the rich experience of Danish Dairy Technology. The main area of research is camel milk, according to the information the School sent to HU Online.