ABOUT

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Background

Because of the wide range of choices, there is a need for information system specialists who focus on integrating computing technologies and business processes to meet organizational needs. These specialists need to be mainly engaged in solving the problems associated with the organization issues and information systems. The department focuses on uses of the technology as a tool for processing, storing and distributing information. Graduates from the Department of Information Systems (IS) must understand both technical and organizational factors. They must also be able to help organizations to use technology to achieve their goals efficiently and effectively.

Despite the fact that Information Systems has been given as a profession in some countries for a couple of decades, the field is too young in Ethiopia. The government of Ethiopia is now aggressively embarking on the introduction and expansion of the ICT sector as an enabling tool for the country’s development.

Until recently, there has been only one institution, i.e., Addis Ababa University, which offers training in IS to learners in Ethiopia. In fact, AAU launched a bachelor’s program in Information Systems in 2002. Currently, following the government’s priority to the development and expansion of the ICT sector as an enabling sector to national development, training in Information Systems is offered by both government and private Ethiopian institutions of higher education.

Information Systems professionals help organizations in identifying organizational information system requirements. Also, they are actively involved in the specification, design and development IS needs. To this end, IS professionals must have good knowledge of an organization’s principles and practices in order to bridge the gap between the needs of technical and the management communities.

Organizations in Ethiopia are becoming larger and more complex, and they are in need of IS professionals to help the management of organizations’ information to promote their products and services. Meanwhile, information is increasingly becoming a key strategic resource for effective and sustainable development of any type of organization in the contemporary society. Recent advancements and applications of information systems and/or communication technologies have transformed the structure of the international and national economies, leading to new methods and practices in most institutions. Many higher learning institutions in Ethiopia have recognized this fact and introduced Information Systems study program in their curricula.

To address the IS needs of organizations in Ethiopia, the Department of Information Systems is guided by the following vision mission, and values which are in line with HrU’s and Federal Ministry of Education’s.

Vision

Because of the wide range of choices, there is a need for information system specialists who focus on integrating computing technologies and business processes to meet organizational needs. These specialists need to be mainly engaged in solving the problems associated with an organization and its information systems. The discipline focuses on uses of the technology as a tool for processing, storing and distributing information. Graduates from the Information Systems (IS) department must understand both technical and organizational factors. They must be able to help organizations to use technology to achieve their goals efficiently and effectively.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Information Systems is aligned with HrU’s mission, namely to train competent graduates in Information Systems, undertake knowledge-generating, problem-solving and cutting-edge research, and provide demand-driven and transformative community engagement that will contribute to local, national, regional and global sustainable development.

Values

Background to Management Information Systems

Management Information Systems professionals focus on integrating information technology solutions and business processes to meet the information needs of organizations and enabling them to achieve their objectives effectively and efficiently. For MIS professionals, technology is an instrument that enables them to generate, process and distribute information.

MIS professionals should understand both technical and organizational factors as they play the leading roles in determining the requirements for organization information systems and are active in the design, implementation and management of these systems.

Moreover, MIS professionals work closely with organizations’ managers and serve a bridging role between organizational professionals and other computing professionals. Among all computing related professionals, MIS specialists emphasize skills and knowledge in such areas as project management, business functional areas, teamwork and collaboration, systems analysis and design, database design, network management, planning, organizational controls, quality management and written and oral communication.

These professionals work in private and public organizations, i.e., in all business sectors. MIS professionals often aspire to become managers of either the information systems function or general organization.

The objective of the MIS program is to develop practical skills and critical awareness of graduate students who can successfully function as information technology managers and/or professionals with the potential for executive position.

The program provides students with deep and sound knowledge on how to use Information Technology (IT) in business environment to gain a competitive advantage, improve performance, and increase profitability of a business enterprise.

Rationale

Information is increasingly becoming a key strategic resource for effective and sustainabledevelopment of any type of organization in the contemporary society. Recent advancements and applications of information systems and/or communication technologies have transformed the structure ofthe international and national economies, leading to new methods and practices in most institutions. Many Higher Learning Institutions in Ethiopia have also recognized this fact and introduced Information Systems study program in their curricula.

However, within the HLIs, there are different versions of information systems curricula which are based on diverse viewpoints. One of the results of this is the lack of common understanding between computing curricula in higher learning institutes of Ethiopia. Consequently, a revision was done on the curriculum in response to the following needs of the country to:

  • Harmonize HLIs programs across the country so as to facilitate professional mobility for employment
  • Implement a standardized curriculum at the national level
  • Incorporate the ideas of Competence Based Education (CBE) on the curriculum
  • Incorporate the ideas of modular approach on the curriculum
  • Increase mobility of student from one university to the other
  • Enable students to get certification up on the successful completion of  the module

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