Dilla UniversityCollege of Engineering & Technology

Proposal on Industrial Linkage Development

1. Background of Dilla University

1.1 Dilla University (DU)

The history of Dilla University can be traced back to the year 1996 with its name, Dilla College of Teachers' Education and Health Sciences. The then Dilla College constituted two faculties: Faculty of Teachers’ Education and Faculty of Health Sciences. However, in 2001, the College was included in the then newly emerging university-Debub University. In 2004 Dilla College once again went through another phase and sprung in to a full-fledged University by the councils of ministers regulation No-129/04.

When Dilla college begun its activity as a college it had 12 departments with a total student population less than 400, in a campus that was originally constructed for another purpose. Now the University is operating in 3 campuses with one College, with one research Institute and 13 Schools which offer 40 undergraduate and 7 postgraduate programs with a student population of around 17,000 in regular and Continuing Education Programs.

Dilla University to date has more than 700 motivated young academic staff and more than 1300 administrative staff who are working vigorously to materialize its mission and reach the horizon of excellence in the world of academics. The university has strong innovative learning methods and didactics, as it used to be a teachers’ University.

1.1.1 Vision of the University

Dilla University strives to be among the top most ten universities in East Africa by teaching learning, research and community services by the year 2023.

1.1.2 Mission of the University

Prepare knowledgeable, skilled and mature graduates. Design and provide training and community services pertinent to the country’s and

the region’s priority needs. Promote and enhance research and consultancy services that shall cater to the

development needs and policy imperatives of the country.

1.1.3 Goals of the University:

Develop a conducive environment for learning and teaching Ensure the quality and expansion of education and training Advance research and consultancy works in various fields Improve services to the community Increase the revenue, minimize the costs

1.1.4 Objectives of the University: Provide skilled manpower in quantity and quality that will serve the country in

different professions

Expand higher education services that are free from any discrimination on rounds of race, religion, sex, politics and others

Lay down problem solving educational and institutional system that enables to utilize potential resources of the country and undertake study and research

Provide higher education and community services that are compatible with the needs and development of the country

Lay down an institutional system that ensures the accountability of the institution Ensure the participation of all those concerned bodies in administration decision

making, create and promote participation culture Make efforts to develop and disseminate the culture of respect, tolerance and living

together among people Establish a system, which increases the revenues and minimizes unnecessary costs

1.2 College of Engineering & Technology

1.2.1 Introduction

Four to five years ago the government of Ethiopia decided to set up several new Universities to meet the demographic challenge and provide the country’s growing industry with properly qualified engineers. Producing well trained engineers which can satisfy the demand of different construction and manufacturing industries was also be one of the pillars of the growth and transformation plan of the government. In line with this fact, Dilla University founded the so called School of Technology in March 2011. The School was launched in September 2011 and currently named as College of Engineering & Technology consisting of seven undergraduate departments: Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Construction Technology and Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Hydraulic & Water Resources Engineering and Drafting Engineering with a student body of about 3,800 students.

1.2.2 Vision of the College To be one of the well organized and known Teaching and/or research Institute in Ethiopia and as

well as in east Africa. To create strong international links and relations in the way that will help us attain our vision to

become the leading center of education and research in east Africa.

1.2.3 Mission/Objectives of the College

To create and sustain a process of learning in which students are given a broadly based university experience, a well-rounded education that enhances the development of creativity and critical thinking, and inculcates a strong sense of social awareness.

To create a dynamic and supportive working environment in which faculty and staff may continuously develop intellectually and professionally.

To contribute to the development of the nation in close cooperation with government and industry in promoting sustainable technologies, contributing to economic development, and improving the quality of life of the country’s citizens.

To provide knowledge-based technological services to meet the needs of society, with a focus on urban development.

To help in building national capabilities in technology education. To build strong relationships between the School, government and industry. To preserve and enrich Ethiopia’s natural and cultural heritage. To produce properly qualified engineers which can fit for the country’s growing industry and

meet the GTP goal. To carry out research and development activities in areas relevant to the needs of the country To render consultancy services to the community To build up University-Industry Linkages so as to work on technology transfer and provide

relevant trainings to the stakeholder /personnel/ in industries as well as Government suited for their requirements.

To enable graduates work as a team in addressing engineering problems which the community come across.

To encourage students in research that offers optimal solution to technical problems in the manufacturing industries, construction, energy sector, telecommunication, computer applications and other industry sectors.

Preamble

Ethiopian higher educational institute have expanded by more than ten-fold over the last twenty years, both in the number of students and the number of universities. This ambitious undertaking is part of Ethiopia’s larger economic expansion plans, the Growth & Transformation Plan.

Dilla University College of Engineering & Technology, as one of the public universities in Ethiopia, is looking for creating relationships with different industries, local, national and international for technology transfer to be made possible through the following means.

a. Identifying and developing Internship programs suitable for students in several industries during their fourth year.

b. Identify research activities that could be funded by the industries and by the local governments.

c. Organize seminars and workshops with industry experts delivering lectures at least twice every semester.

d. Develop a framework and memorandum of understanding between the local TVET organizations and the university to ensure new research ideas can be initiated and tested using prototype development in TVET.

Objectives of Linkages

To establish linkage between College of Engineering & Technology and relevant institutes for several of the engineering and technology based industries (local, national and international) to ensure technology transfer, to improve community service activities by cooperating with local government, to develop cordial relations with local TVET college and to enhance the practical learning of the students and develop industry based research activities in all the relevant engineering and inter-disciplinary fields.

General objectives of Linkages are:

1. Identifying the relevant industries for Internship programs for different engineering disciplines. 2. Developing the Framework of Internship Evaluation and Grading by understanding the existing

systems in well established universities in Ethiopia. 3. Establishing a connection with clear Memorandum of Understanding between the industry

based organizations and the College of Engineering & Technology. 4. Organizing Seminars and workshops with industry experts. 5. Comprehensive connections with both local industries and international industries. 6. A proposal designed, on the basis of this industry linkages, to strengthen the institutional

capacity of Dilla University College of Engineering & Technology in the following topics:

Building a well organized Internship Program. Creating a network of Industry connections, collecting the names of experts in

engineering and technical fields relevant to practical learning. Develop Industry funded research programs that could help the community. Working closely with the local industries and government to identify community

development programs that could be achieved through technology transfer.

The objectives of each specific linkage are given below.

1. Inter- University Linkage:

To establish inter-university linkage between College of Engineering & Technology and institutes in similar areas from any country.

Specific objectives of collaboration are:

Research collaborations Establishing a joint degree programmes in areas of Engineering & Technology within the

framework of institutional agreement between the two universities Faculty and student exchange programs Comprehensive institutional partnerships A proposal designed, on the basis of this inter-university cooperation, to strengthen the

institutional capacity of Dilla University College of Engineering & Technology in the following topics:

Strengthening university administrative capacity, governance, strategic planning, curriculum development and personnel management;

Improving university information networks and digital libraries; Creating greater access and support for young women in university study; Building English learning programs.

2. Linkage between the University and Industry:

This is to establish linkage between College of Engineering & Technology and relevant institutes for several of the engineering and technology based industries (local, national and international) to ensure technology transfer.

Specific objectives of this linkage are:

This will enable the internship programs to be identified for different disciplines in engineering fields.

This will enhance the practical learning of the students and develop industry based research activities in all the relevant engineering and inter-disciplinary fields.

3. Linkage between the University and TVET:

This linkage helps to develop a cordial relation with local TVET programs to enhance practical learning of the students.

Specific objectives of this linkage are:

This will benefit the students and the university staff for practical learning. This will benefit the TVET College because the university can lend them qualified faculty for

their development.

4. Linkage between the University and Local Government:

Specific objectives of this linkage are:

This linkage helps to improve relationship with the local government with regard to community service requirements.

This will enhance the technology transfer through useful research that can be considered as a community service. The government will be partially accountable for the organization of such research.

ACTION PLAN:

S. No Activity Dead Line Resources Needed1. Develop Internship Program Dec 25,

2013One Staff member from each discipline.

Transport to 4 different established universities2. Develop Linkages with

TVETJan, 2014 Prepare a MOU for this collaboration.

3. Initiate Industry Connections by developing network of experts in several fields.

March, 2014

Transport (Round Trip) to several Big Industries in Ethiopia identified by the relevant

engineering disciplines.4. Design a framework of

Periodical Workshop/ Seminar inviting industry

experts (identified in Task 2)

June, 2014. NONE

5.Create Linkages with Local

Government

Aug, 2014. At least 2 Administratively Sound Local Authority Figures working for Dilla University.

One Staff Member from Each engineering Discipline.

6. Develop International Industry Connections.

Oct, 2014 2 staff members travelling to relevant industries in developed countries to initiate connections.

7. Develop Ph.D programs both for staff and students

with industry and other institutional linkages.

Dec, 2014 2 Experts working constantly on developing network for these programs.

Current Resources Needed for the Office:

1. A separate office with basic facilities such as a PC, phone and stationary. 2. One staff member from each discipline should be nominated as a member of Industry Linkage

Team, preferably with two expatriate staff members. 3. One Local staff/ non-staff member who can handle book-keeping, budget, transport and other

administrative related issues.

The relevant Budget details have to be estimated for the initial establishment of the office.

Office Co-ordinators: Dr. Madhava Madireddy and Mullugeta K MariamOffice Members:

Sincerely,

Dr. Madhava Madireddy and Mullugeta K Mariam

BUDGET JUSTIFICATION1. Economy airfares and subsistence (3 days @ $100/day per) for Dr. RaúlDelgado Wise (Zacatecas-Halifax-Zacatecas)) and Dr. Kari Levitt (Montreal-Halifax-Montreal).2. Economy airfares Halifax-Zacatecas-Halifax ( x 3 ) and Mexico DFZacatecas-Mexico DF ( x 2 ) plus Subsistence @ 100/day x 4 ( x 5) = $10,000Overhead –to UAZ ($2,000)Workshop Organization – in-kind ($2,000)3. Course replacement stipend ($8000) and 30 days subsistence @ $50/day forresearch supervision4. airfares Zacatecas-Halifax-Zacatecas ( x 2 ) plus subsistence/local travel, 30days, in Zacatecas state, and 30 days on campus in Halifax for two UAZ PhDstudents5. Airfares/subsistence costs for 2 scholars, both from Mexico, to participate inthe June 2006 CASID Conference – Interuniversity PhD Programme Initiativepanel6. DVP full-time salary, pro-rated for three months, at $22,000.7. Costs of the proposed Conference, and their distribution among varioussponsors, are difficult to estimate in advance of various planning meetings.But they will include (i) $10,000 from SSHRC (maximum allowed under theOccasional Conference Support programme); (ii) $5,000 from SMU(proposed); and (iii) $20,000 from IDRC. IDRC’s proposed contribution isdesigned to facilitate the participation of stakeholders and interested partiesfrom abroad – not only Latin America and Europe but the Caribbean (NormanGirvan), India and perhaps elsewhere. It is expected that participants from theUK (UK, Netherlands, Spain) will be sponsored through a EuropeanCommunity Institutional and Programme Cooperation fund.