Arba Minch University hosted ‘7th national symposium of Research for Development’ at Main Campus beginning from 7th to 8th May, 2021. 1st day saw the presentation of 11 research findings while 32 papers were presented in parallel sessions by the organizing colleges and schools. Click here to see the pictures
At the outset, Research Directorate Executive Director, Dr Teshome Yirgu, giving a lowdown on program, said, this 7th national symposium is jointly hosted by College of Social Sciences and Humanities, College of Business & Economics, School of Law and School of Pedagogy & Behavioral Sciences. According warm welcome to the gathering, he squarely blamed Corona pandemic for pushing this 2020 symposium to May 2021; he informed that of 205 received papers only 42 findings were selected.
Till date AMU has been involved in multiple research endeavors but there is lot to be done, said, Research and Community Service Vice President, Mr Behailu Merdekios, and there is a need of every research initiative to be community-centric. AMU, now being Research University, has to create measurable impact for national development in this our all research endeavor has to be problem-solving and result-oriented.
He further adds that recent tie-ups with Gamo Zone, GIZ, Rift Valley Basin Authority & different federal ministries is likely to launch multiple research undertakings that will create cascading impact on socio-economic well-being of our region. He exhorted that in such situation, it’s imperative for researchers to create synergy that will enhance scientific outlook and hurtle us towards technological era, he averred.
AMU President, Dr Damtew Darza, termed such platform as quintessentially paramount in order to create and sustain scientific atmosphere to fuel our quest for technological excellence. Ethiopia while increasing numbers of higher education institutions is simultaneously focusing on quality to evolve scientific culture and facilitating vibrant environment for students and providing holistic support to their creative ideas.
We are trying to upscale research initiatives with regard to its volume and quality and today’s symposium is an extension of our ongoing efforts where research plays potent role in ensuring development for which both government and all universities have to work in tandem. We hope in next 10 years our entire staff will be engaged in multi-disciplinary research, he opined.
At the outset Mr Tadele Mognehodie of Adama Science and Technology University, in his findings on corporate branding and communication strategies, said, universities aren’t projecting their unique selling points (USPs) wherein students don’t get valuable information that further blurs their mind. This lacuna not only affects prospect of a university as education destination but also debilitates its visibility per se.
Subsequently, in the 1st session 3 more findings on transformational leadership, emotional maturity, social media usage among adolescents and challenges in the protection of rights were presented. The abstract of 42 research papers were distributed to the gathering in which AMU has 9 findings.
Acknowledging the contributions of participating researchers, scholars and stakeholders, Community Service Director, Dr Teklu Wegayehu, in his concluding remark observed that this platform could generate intense scientific discourse thus encouraging and inspiring everyone to learn innovative ideas from each other and enhance respective research endeavors in future. On the occasion, 34 researchers were feted with certificate of recognition.
The program was interspersed with discussions on various issues; apart from AMU, researchers and scholars from Addis Ababa, Adama Science & Technology, Mekelle, Woldia, Arsi, Ambo, Wollo, Debre Berhan, Mizan Tepi, Bahir Dar, Salale, Adigrat, Hawassa, Gondar, Kotebe, Asosa and Dire Dawa universities, officials from 12 sectors of Gamo and Gofa Zones and others were in attendance.
(Communication Affairs Directorate)