Fall 2019 Message from the President
In an interview with national news outlets Dr. Asrat Atsedeweyn, the President of the University of Gondar, shared his vision and the initial work being done to start the Fall 2019 school year off to a good start. Last year the University of Gondar admitted over 25,000 regular undergraduate students which could be seen as one of the highest in the country. This year to better equip the students with the necessities they need UoG is constantly preparing its many services that include meals, dorms, health services and others.
A number of critical preparations are underway that includes, among others, increasing the work force, preparing of induction trainings, maintenance of dormitories, food preparation, finalizing job evaluation and grading, choosing the years research, community service and technology transfer initiatives and the likes. Dr. Asrat in the interview, in one of his points, believes that this year will be a stepping-stone to a bright future because of the new freshmen system and some of the new programs that the University has opened.
“The University of Gondar will fulfill its potential by offering new courses to freshmen students which are broken up into two areas that include Natural and Computational Sciences and Social Sciences” expressed Dr. Asrat.
In coordination with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the first year courses were evaluated and set for the freshmen students focusing on the country, national unity and knowledge of their history. According to Dr. Asrat, classes that were not offered before but are now in first year curriculum include “geography, history, moral education and the likes.”
‘Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn’ for example is one case where the curriculum is becoming more centered on the African content and Dr. Asrat believes this can only create a more competent and self-aware graduate.
“One other aspect of the year that gives great optimism is the University’s establishment of its first program on the ancient language of Geez” stated Dr. Asrat.
The language was near extinction and used in liturgical spaces by the Orthodox Christian churches in the country. “But from now on with this new program,” shared Dr. Asrat, “we will be able to bring much needed attention to this great resource and heritage.”
Lastly, one point that the President of the University raised was a new project that the University of Gondar hopes will make a sizable impact this year. This project is coined the “Gondar Baytseb Project”.
This project will try to involve University Freshmen students in the community by having one household in which they will be connected to in the city of Gondar. According to Dr. Asrat, this initiative will create national unity and a tradition of helping each other out by bonding with people of different cultures, traditions and religions. In addition, he expressed that since UoG students come from all over the country from all backgrounds this will be a great opportunity to bond with fellow citizens.
The aim of the project is essentially to create an atmosphere of “family” and this bond will last even outside of the confines of the university and after graduation. The project will be a collaboration between the University of Gondar and the Gondar city administration.
Moreover, this year will hold a lot more initiatives and projects, which will aim to make the University of Gondar the Top University in the country for more years to come. If viewers want to hear the full interview, please stay tuned to the University’s Radio program at 8 o’clock in the afternoon on Sundays and or follow Fana broadcasting and ENA ( Ethiopian News Agency) for more details on their coverage.
Public and International Relations Directorate