CALL FOR ETHIOPIANS LIVING ABROAD TO COME AND GIVE THEIR VALUABLE SERVICES IN ETHIOPIAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

It is clear that education is a key to the development and advancement of the nation. It is a leading instrument for promoting economic growth, creating social cohesion, boosting political consciousness, advancing knowledge and improving the living standard of the people. Higher education in this respect is pivotal and plays a crucial role.

Irrespective of its paramount importance and understanding, the pace of expansion of higher education which dawned in Ethiopia about six decades ago remained strikingly slow, slower even to the levels of Sub-Saharan countries. A single university, Hailesselasie I University (Addis Ababa University with its current name) and a few junior colleges existed until recently with a notably low intake and enrolment capacity.

Since the last ten years, however, the MOE of the government of Ethiopia embarked on the task of the expansion and access of higher education which is tuned towards meeting more directly the national strategy for economic growth and poverty reduction. Lots of public universities were established throughout the country, and consequently the number of universities under the auspices of the Ministry of Education alone reached thirty one. Regional colleges, mainly Teacher Training Colleges, appeared to the scene and, also importantly, the private sector showed a heated interest in the sector which in turn made a vital contribution in the development and expansion.

Enrolment had risen significantly in both the undergraduate and graduate levels reaching 418,965 and 24,653 respectively in the 2011/12 academic year in the public Higher Education Institutions alone. This expansion, besides undoubtedly putting pressure on infrastructure and resources, it created an urgent demand for qualified instructors, researchers and advisors as the quality of education in any Educational Institution fundamentally depends upon the quality of the academic staff. The universities and the government exerted a strenuous effort to fulfill the academic staff required. Nevertheless, our universities still are encountered with a shortage of qualified and experienced instructors, advisors and researchers. In order to overcome this problem, the Ministry is obliged to employ expatriate teachers with relatively higher pays. It has been planned to train thousands of candidates at the Post Graduate level both at home and abroad basically targeting the fulfillment of the human resource needs of the Higher Education Institutions.

In light of the above facts, it is time to look for the support and services of qualified and experienced Ethiopians living in foreign lands. We extremely believe that participation and contribution of Ethiopians living abroad can play a remarkable role in the capacity building program in education and, development of the nation in general. Hence, the Universities and the Ministry of Education of Ethiopia call upon all qualified and experienced Ethiopians living abroad to come and give a short or long term services in teaching, consultation, advisory or research in our universities. Forwarding our sincere gratitude for those committed individuals who rendered their noteworthy services till date, we kindly invite all interested Ethiopians living abroad to come and render their highly valued services. Please express your interests and send your CV’s through the contact addresses listed below.