Background
The school of Rural Development and Agricultural Innovation (the then Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension) was one of the pioneer school established with the realization of the emerging need of creating development professionals with enough competence and technical knowledge to improve the Ethiopian farming sector. In 1967, the university began to offer a BSc degree in Agricultural Extension. However, the department was closed in 1977–1978. After some years of interruption, the university re-institutionalized the department of Agricultural Extension in 1994 as per the recommendation from the Ministry of Education. The department of Agricultural Extension renamed as Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension (RDAE) in 2004. Finally, the Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension upgraded to the school of Rural Development and Agricultural Innovation (RDAI) in August 2020. Currently, the school has running several programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and has qualified staff members that will enable smooth and efficient running of these programs.
The programs under the school aimed at facilitating pro-poor and gender sensitive agricultural and rural development in Ethiopia. More specifically, the program contributes to the national endeavor geared towards improving the life of the rural masses whose problems are much intertwined with physical, technological, cultural, socio-economic and institutional issues. The programs have been designed to produce competent and dynamic graduates who would facilitate technological and institutional innovations through network building, social learning and effective communicative intervention. The graduates will play multiple roles such as serve as adult educators/trainers, organizers, facilitators, researchers, mediators, counselors, consultants, and social engineers.
Hence, the programs under the school were designed to produce skilled manpower in required quality and quantity in Rural Development and Agricultural Extension. So far, the school has produced more than 3200 graduates at B.Sc level in regular, summer, distance, and continuing education from 1996/7 to 2020/21, more than 600 mid-career students at BSc level in regular program from 1999 to 2021, more than 400 graduates at M.Sc level in regular, summer and CEP programs, and 7 graduates at PhD level. Thus, the school produced more than 4,000 graduates until January 2022. Currently a total of 250 undergraduate students and more than 70 postgraduate students are enrolled in the school. The number of postgraduate students is increasing from time to time due to the demand from various stakeholders.
Vision
The vision of the school of Rural Development and Innovation (RDAI) is to become a vibrant center of excellence in East African Region for learning and research in rural development and agricultural innovations by the year 2030.
Mission
- To train new generation of researchers, experts, and development practitioners in areas related to rural development, agricultural extension, innovation systems, information and communication management, and related areas.
- To conduct need-based and problem-solving action research
- Provide effective community services