About University Autonomy Office
Mission
To design, implement, and monitor autonomy frameworks that empower HU with decision-making independence over academic, administrative, and financial affairs while maintaining efficiency, transparency, quality, and sustainability.
Vision
To establish Haramaya University (HU) as an autonomous institution, achieving excellence and innovation in teaching, research, and community engagement.
Director
Dr.Adnew Tadesse
Background
Haramaya University, one of Ethiopia’s oldest and most prominent higher education institutions, has long been committed to academic excellence, research, and community engagement. As the university evolves within a dynamic national and global educational landscape, the need to institutionalize and protect its autonomy has become increasingly critical. The establishment of a University Autonomy Office reflects Haramaya’s commitment to ensuring that its academic, financial, staffing, and organizational decisions are made independently and in alignment with its mission and values
The concept of university autonomy has long been recognized as a cornerstone of higher education systems worldwide. It refers to the capacity of universities to govern themselves independently, free from undue external interference, particularly in areas such as academic programming, financial management, staffing, and organizational structure. As higher education institutions face increasing pressures from government regulations, market forces, and societal expectations, the need to safeguard and strengthen institutional autonomy has become more urgent than ever.
In response to this evolving landscape, the University Autonomy Office was established as a dedicated entity within the university's governance framework. Its primary role is to monitor, protect, and promote the university’s autonomy across all dimensions—academic, financial, staffing, and organizational. The office serves as a strategic hub for policy development, advocacy, and institutional support, ensuring that the university retains the freedom to pursue its mission of teaching, research, and public service without compromising its core values or academic integrity.
Ultimately, the office contributes to the long-term sustainability and excellence of the institution by enabling it to adapt to change, make strategic decisions, and maintain its unique identity in an increasingly competitive global education landscape.
Motto
Building the Basis for Development
Key Responsibilities
• Leading the staff of the office.
• Following up on, documenting, and communicating autonomy-related policies—those already developed, under development, and initiating additional needful policies of the university autonomy.
• Mobilizing capable and committed staff to develop needful policies and support the effective implementation of the reform.
• Regularly initiating forums for discussion and feedback on the reform process.
• Providing regular updates on the status of the reform to the university’s top management and broader university community.
• Developing a comprehensive reform plan with a clear timeline for implementation, and communicating it to the university's top management and the university community.
• Drafting and initiating directives necessary for the reform process.
Leadership Structure of the Office
Dr. Yibekal Alemayehu
Associate Director for Academic Affairs
Telephone (Office):
Telephone (Mob)：+251912065357
Email Address: yibekalabebe@gmail.com
Key Responsibilities
• Leading academic-related reform initiatives, including the development and implementation of policies and directives such as academic program management (emergence, growth, reintegration, discontinuation, etc.)
• Documenting and communicating academic-related policies, both developed and under development, such as the University Senate Legislation, Student Admission Policy, Alumni Engagement Policy, and others.
Professor Jeylan Woliye
Associate Director for Research, Resource Mobilization, and Internationalization Affairs
Telephone (Office): +251(0)255530323
Telephone (Mob)：+251930340120
Email Address: jeylanw@yahoo.com
Key Responsibilities
• Leading initiatives in the development and implementation of policies related to research, resource mobilization, and internationalization.
• Documenting and communicating policies—both developed and under development—such as those on resource mobilization, endowment, internationalization, environment, gender and inclusiveness, and others.
Mr. Bacha Dhaba
Associate Director for Administrative Affairs
Telephone (Office):
Telephone (Mob)：+251946596624
Email Address: bdleta2@gmail.com
Key Responsibilities
• Leading reform initiatives related to administrative matters, including the development and implementation of policies on human resource management (both academic and administrative staff), procurement, and risk management, among others.
• Documenting and communicating HRM-related policies, both developed and under development,
