Arba Minch University Senate in its recent meeting has promoted two academic staff members, gave its nod for two new MSc programs and endorsed revision of 3 MSc and BA programs each and finally confirmed this year’s academic calendar to be end up with graduation in September, 2021, its learnt.
Initially, Senate has endorsed launching of 2 new MSc programs in Forensic Toxicology and Environment Toxicology from Natural Science and Computational Sciences which after nod from AMU Board and endorsement by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education will be launched, informed Academic Affairs Vice President, Dr Alemayehu Chufamo.
Concurrently, he added that Senate has also approved 2nd revision of 3 MSc programs in Engineering Geology, Hydrology and Applied Statistics and 1st revision of 3 BA programs in Finance & Development Economics, Communication & Media Studies and Public Relations & Advertising. He opined curriculums have to be revised after some years so that they are market-friendly. Therefore, hereafter, AMU will involve different industry personnel while revising them and it will be done after every 4 years, he added.
Most importantly, Senate Executive Committee has discussed the issue of pre-submission guideline on PhD Viva Voce examination that wasn’t included in the main PhD guidelines. In order to maintain quality in doctoral studies, it’s imperative and soon it will find its place in the main guidelines. Similarly, this year’s academic calendar that has gone bit haywire due to Corona virus pandemic will finally end up with 34th Graduation to be hosted on 1st week of September, 2021, he summed up.
Senate in its meeting dated 26th April, 2021, has elevated 2 Assistant Professors, Mr Bitewuligne Eshete, from Horticulture Department, College of Agricultural Sciences and Dr Bogale Gabremariam of Hydraulic & Water Resource Engineering Department, Water Technology Institute, as Associate Professorship as both have fulfilled stipulated criteria enshrined in university rules and legislation.
Having evaluated supporting documents vis-à-vis AMU legislation under Articles 55/4/4.2 & 55/4/4.4, Senate has found both applicants accurately fulfilling mandated parameters where Mr Bitewuligne and Dr Bogale clocked 37.8 & 36.5% participation in Effective Teaching, 35% in Publications, 12.75 & 15% participation in university affairs and in community services, they had 6 & 2% role respectively and thereby got promoted to the position of Associate Professorship.
On the occasion, the list of hybrid graduates belonging to 5 colleges, 2 institutes, Continuing & Distance Education and Sawla Campus who completed their studies in staggered manner via regular, summer, weekend and continuing modes of education was released.
Of total graduates, College of Continuing and Distance Education has 193, Water Technology Institute, 28, Institute of Technology, 8, College of Natural & Computational Sciences, 59, College of Agricultural Sciences, 33, College of Social Sciences & Humanities, 1, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, 6, and Sawla Campus, 2, graduates and some more to follow.
Mengie Belayneh Tiruneh is the pick of the list who has completed PhD in Geography and Environmental Studies with CGPA 4; he is 3rd PhD graduates of AMU after Dr Demelash Wondemeneh of AMU and Dr Kassaw Besha, Wolayta Soddo University, in Irrigation & Drainage Engineering.
(Communication Affairs Directorate)