Addis Ababa University: A flagship university transforming its internal system
This webinar is a part of an Innovative Universities Webinar Series.
Addis Ababa University (AAU) is a public university located in Addis Ababa, comprising six campuses, one of which is situated in Bishoftu city. Established in 1950 as the University College of Addis Ababa, its founding mission was to contribute to the modernization and development of Ethiopia by producing educated and skilled professionals who could serve in government, education, and various sectors of the economy. With the expansion of the national higher education system, numerous universities have been established, and AAU has broadened its graduate programs to help meet their growing demand for qualified human resources.
Today, AAU stands as the country’s first and only autonomous, research-intensive higher education institution. In line with its autonomous status, AAU has taken the lead in experimenting with innovative approaches, particularly in navigating complex curriculum transformations that seek to maintain a balance between growth and quality.
How has the university achieved this balance? How does this experience align with broader institutional transformations? And what lessons can other universities draw from AAU’s example? These questions and more will be explored in a discussion with Professor Abebaw Yirga Adamu, Director of Quality Assurance and Risk Management at AAU.
Abebaw Yirga Adamu is Professor of Higher Education and Director of Quality Assurance and Risk Management at AAU.
In the latter role, he is guiding the academic program review process at AAU. Abebaw has a Ph.D. in Education and Society from the University of Tampere. He is a Fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences and a member of the professional advisory council of the Ministry of Education. He has previously served as the Director of the Ethiopian Institute for Higher Education.
Coming soon. Stay tuned.