Arba Minch University all set to launch its maiden three journals in Science, Water Science & Technology and Business & Social Science streams, in a daylong meeting at Main Campus recently, discussed all aspects of publications, technicalities and administrative parameters. President, Dr Feleke Woldeyes, said, decision to launch journals is unprecedented in the history of AMU. He further adds, university is the important place of knowledge innovation and journals can produce epoch-making innovations and be a window of reflecting teaching-learning and research achievements. At the same time, it carries the burden of propagating innovative information, finding and cultivating the innovative talents.
At the outset, in the presence of AMU top officials including deans and directors, Research Coordinator from Abaya Campus, Mr Habtom, presented the skeleton of a journal presenting three Colleges, Natural Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
First journal to be called ‘International Journal of Science,’ will publish articles from diverse computational, natural, agricultural, medicine, health sciences, technology and multi-disciplinary and emerging areas. The launching date is yet to be finalized.
Water Research and Resource Centre’s Director, Dr Abdella, presenting the structure of the second journal, ‘Ethiopian Journal of Water Science and Technology,’ explained about its well thought-out structure, rationale, editorial board and other specific details.
With Editorial Board in place, wherein Dr Mekonen Ayana is Editor-in-Chief, Dr Negash Wagesho and Dr Adane Abebe as Co-Editors and Dr Abdella Editorial Manager; this bi-annual journal, will be launched in March 2016, Dr Abdella informed.
The third journal, ‘Ethiopian Journal of Business and Social Sciences’, will present College of Social Sciences and Humanities and Business and Economics. Mr Eshetu Ewnetu and Mr Getahun Kelemework presented its well structured format to the gathering. This annual scientific publication will be bi-lingual (English/Amharic) free for non-commercial use. It will publish articles on humanities and social science i.e. accounting and finance, geography, history, law, archaeology, management, gender and sexual studies.
In the discussion, Dr Feleke suggested all three editorial boards should be under Research Directorate and former WRRC director, Dr Mekonen Ayana, to take overall responsibility. The Editorial Board office should coordinate with all stakeholders, right from science, engineering, humanities, business and social science streams.
Some aired the view that journals are like an independent institution can generate finances. AMU has research papers, but they need to be standardized and for the same, AMU can hire experts from India and elsewhere to upgrade the standard of journals. 
Institute of Technology’s Scientific Director, Dr Negash, opined to build the trend prevalent in foreign universities where students with higher grades are allowed to get papers published in journals. We get many papers, but we need the best; if such system gets established, it will be an achievement, he adds.
Majority of officials were of the opinion that editorial board with proper layered structure that includes editor-in-chief, co-editors, editorial manager, associate, language and copy editors etc. can further the cause that would lead to proper and smooth conduct of the responsibilities.
Later, all colleges were asked to delegate the responsibilities so that the first ever journals of Arba Minch University should be standardized where renowned academicians would prefer to get their scientific work published.

(By Corporate Communication Directorate: Philips Joseph)