National Curricula Review Workshop Conducted
Haramaya Institute of Technology conducted a national curricula review workshop on June 22, 2023.
The curricula review workshop was held to revise three existing postgraduate programs, two existing PhD programs (Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, and Soil and Water Conservation Engineering) and one existing MSc program (Soil and Water Conservation Engineering).
Director of the Academic Programs Directorate of Haramaya University, Dr. Yilfashewa Seyoum, in his opening speech said that we have the responsibility of constantly design and update programs with a logical and coherent approach. Therefore, expanding academic programs without ensuring their relevance and quality cannot ensure economic growth and the desired social changes. As a result, the efficiency, effectiveness, appropriateness, and quality of these programs have become increasingly concerned among all stakeholders of the university. The involvement of external evaluators plays a vital role in the process of designing new programs and revising existing ones, he said.
Dr. Yilfashewa added it is expected that during this workshop the provision of resources including human resources and facilities, and the alignment of the program with the results of the needs assessment, will be discussed. The revised programs were assessed whether they are demand-based, feasible, and aligned with the university’s vision and mission.
In his welcoming remark, the Associate Director for Postgraduate, Research, and Publication of the Haramaya Institute of Technology, Dr. Abdisa Jabesa, said it is necessary to introduce new programs in accordance with the country’s higher education policy and regularly evaluate the existing programs to produce quality graduates in various fields. Therefore, as one of the research universities in the country, Haramaya University is expanding its graduate programs to conduct high-quality research and engage in community services.
In connection with this, Haramaya Institute of Technology is working to increase its academic, research, and community participation capabilities to achieve its vision of becoming one of the three top IOTs in Ethiopia by 2030. He explained that it is currently running ten undergraduate programs, 12 MSc programs, and four PhD programs.
In addition to this, recently three MSc programs were approved by the university and the university management board and we are preparing to start the programs in the coming academic year, which has increased the number of MSc programs from 12 to 15, Dr. Abdisa said.
Dr. Abdisa added that the MSc in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering program was started in 1997 and updated in 2018. The two PhD programs were started in 2010 and revised in 2015. Therefore, the curriculum needs to be revised regularly, and now it is the time to revise these curricula.
On behalf of the institute, Dr. Abdisa thanked and appreciated the willingness of the external reviewers who came to Haramaya University to give their constructive comments and suggestions to enrich the programs and also appreciate the organizers and facilitators of this review workshop and the participants.
The national workshop was attended by external reviewers from Adama Science and Technology, Hawassa, and Debre Berhan Universities and staff of Haramaya University.
Reporter: – Shemsedin Mohammed
Photographer: – Tewodros Lishan
HU Public and International Relations Directorate
June 23, 2023