ü Background Information
The Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension (RDAE) was launched in 2010/11 Academic Year (2003 E.C.) and is one of the pioneer Departments in College of Agriculture and Rural Transformation (former Faculty of Agriculture), University of Gondar (UoG). The department was established having four academic staff and 51 undergraduate students in one program (B.Sc degree in Rural Development and Agricultural Extension) and undertaking different problem solving research and community service projects. Currently, it has two programs including one graduate program (M.Sc. in Rural Transformation and Innovation System Management) and 17 academic staff and more than 151 regular graduate and undergraduate students. The fact that the department is multidisciplinary in its nature, the composition of the staff is from different field of specialty.
Along with producing competent professionals, the Department is aimed to meet the following objectives:
- To produce qualified and competent graduates in the field of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension; and Rural Transformation and Innovation System Management with the required skills, knowledge and attitudes
- To facilitate, promote and disseminate appropriate agricultural technologies
- To give community based services in area of rural livelihoods, food security, welfare of rural community
- To facilitate pro-poor, gender sensitive and ecologically sound agricultural and rural development
Mission and Vision of the Department
Department of RDAE hares the mission and vision of the College of Agriculture and Rural Transformation of the University of Gondar and has the following mission and vision:
Mission of the Department:
Contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the country by producing vibrant, compassionate and responsible citizens through societal needs tailored curricula; conducting problem solving research; and strengthening community engagement, and technology transfer.
Vision of the Department:
- To be the leading societal problem-solving Department in the Country by 2020.
Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension has the following programs:
1. Undergraduate Program:
| S/N | Program Name | Start time | Admission | Duration of Study | Number of Modules | Total ECTS* | Entry requirements |
| 1 |
B.Sc. in Rural Development and Agricultural Extension | 2010 |
Regular | 3 | 15 | 180 | As per Ethiopian higher education entry point |
| Extension | 4 | 15 | 180 | ||||
| Summer | 5 | 15 | 180 |
* European Credit Transfer System
2. Graduate Program
| S/N | Program Name | Start time | Admission | Duration of Study | Number of Modules | Minimum ECTS* | Entry requirements |
| 1 |
M.Sc. in Rural Transformation and Innovation System Management | 2015 |
Regular | 2 | 4 | 124 | B.Sc. degree in related fields and passing entry exam |
| Extension | 3 | 4 | 124 | ||||
| Summer | 4 | 4 | 124 |
* European Credit Transfer System
Research: Since the inception of the department, different research projects on different issues have been undertaken. The following are some of the research works done and have been performed by the staff member of the department.
| S.N | Year | Research Project/Title | Study Areas | Status | Funded by |
| 1 | 2015/16 | Challenges and Prospects of Agricultural Extension System in Sustainable Agricultural Development in Amhara Region, The case of North Gondar Zone | North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia | New | UoG |
| 2 | 2014/15 | Assessment of members participation in Dairy cooperatives union the case of Jantekel dairy cooperatives union | Gondar Town, North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 3 | 2014/15 | The determinants for rural households internal migration in North Gondar Zone | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 4 | 2013/14 | The roles and prospects of Alatish National Park for sustainability of livelihoods and environment | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 5 | 2013/14 | Adoption of Dairy Production technologies in Gondar town, North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 6 | 2012/13 | The dynsmics of livelihood strategies in response to land in Quara district, North west Ethiopia | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 7 | 2012/13 | The status of household food insecurity and its determinants, the case of North Gondar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 8 | 2012/13 | Analysis of Determinants influencing adoption of Malt-Barley technology, the case of North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 9 | 2012/13 | Assessment of expost training effectiveness in Ethiopia; the case of North Gondar | North Gondar Zone | Completed | External |
| 10 | 2011/12 | Determinants of oxen fattening and marketing cooperatives: the case of North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 11 | 2011/12 | Training needs assessment in higher education and research institutions of Amhara Region, Ethiopia for the improvement of their rural transformation competencies | Amhara Region | Completed | TRANSACT Project |
| 12 | 2011/12 | Rural land certification and changes in tree planting practices in North Gondar | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 13 | 2011/12 | The role of rural land certification in empowering women | North Gondar Zone | Completed | External |
| 14 | 2011/12 | Conflict over land ownership in North Gondar | N/Gondar Zone | Completed | External |
| 15 | 2010/11 | Factors affecting adoption of modern beehives technology the case of North Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 16 | 2010/11 | Stakeholders integration in agricultural research and extension services, the case of North Gondar Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
Community Services and Technology Transfer
Based on research outputs and felt needs of the target community, academic staff member of department f RDAE, have engaged in community services and technology transfer works. The following are some of the works in the area of community services and knowledge and technology transfer.
1. Community Service
| Year | Project Title | Project Areas | Status | Funded by |
| 2015/16 | Livelihood Beyond Migration: Entrepreneurship for Alternative livelihood options: For Rural Youths’ of Dabat Woreda | North Gondar Zone | New | UoG |
| 2015/16 | Members awareness towards Cooperative proclamation, Directives, Rural and regulations for better cooperative development | North Gondar Zone | New | |
| 2014/15 | Empowering the rural youth through Entrepreneurship training | Tseda, Gondar Zuriya Woreda, North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
| 2014/15 | Participatory Natural Resource Conservation for better livelihood | Quara, North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
2. Technology Transfer
| Year | Project Title | Project Areas | Status | Funded by |
| 2015/16 | New | UoG | ||
| 2013/14 | Technology Village Establishment at Gondar Zuriya Woreda, North Gondar Zone | North Gondar Zone | Completed | UoG |
Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about our work please contact:
- Name:
- Birhanu M
- Job Title
- Head, Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension
- Tel (office):
- +251-910709785
- Email:
- birhanum@gmail.com