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Addis Ababa University

አዲስ አበባ ዩኒቨርሲቲ
Gate of the university
Former names	University College of Addis Ababa (1950–1962) Haile Selassie I University (1962–1975)
Motto	ኵሎ አመክሩ ወዘሠናየ አጽንዑ (1 ተሰሎንቄ 5:21) (Geʽez)
Motto in English	"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Type	National university
Established	1950
President	Tassew Woldehanna
Students	48,673 (2013/14)
Location	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 9°2′48″N 38°45′33″E / 9.04667°N 38.75917°E / 9.04667; 38.75917
Campus	Addis Ababa (14 campus, including main)
Website	aau.edu.et

Addis Ababa University (AAU) (Amharic: አዲስ አበባ ዩኒቨርሲቲ) is a national university located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is the oldest university in Ethiopia. AAU has thirteen campuses. Twelve of these are situated in Addis Ababa, and one is located in Bishoftu, about 45 kilometres (28 mi) away. AAU has several associated research institutions including the Institute of Ethiopian Studies. The Ministry of Education admits qualified students to AAU based on their score on the Ethiopian University Entrance Examination (EUEE).

History

The origins of AAU was a two-year college in 1950 by the Jesuit Lucien Matte, at the appeal of His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I. It began operations the following year. Over the following two years an affiliation with the University of London, and University of Oxford was developed. Africans from various parts of the continent would receive free scholarships through programs subsidized by the Organisation of African Unity for higher learning. AAU was also known for sending its students abroad for an extended interpersonal educational experience, and having those students return with the exemplary standards of the international community.

The nucleus of AAU was formed with the establishment of the University College of Addis Ababa (UCAA) in 1950. UCAA, which initially consisted of the Faculties of Arts and Science, became a fully fledged college when it was chartered in 1954. In 1955, the Building College was opened. In February 1961, these various colleges and the Theological College were brought together to form the Haile Selassie University. Emperor Haile Selassie I gave his Guenete Leul Palace to serve as the administration building and main campus. He had abandoned the palace, where a number of his ministers and favorites were killed in the wake of the abortive Coup d'état in 1960, in favor of the new Jubilee Palace. Following the 1974 revolution, the university was briefly renamed University of Ethiopia (National University) before it came to assume its present designation, AAU, in 1975. In the wake of the revolution, AAU was closed for two years and students and staff were drafted into what was known as the Development through Cooperation Campaign (zemecha), designed to arise the awareness of the rural population in the spirit of the revolution. The university offered its first Master's programs in 1979 and its first PhD programs in 1987.

Administration

Until 1974 the charter provided for a governance structure in the following descending order or authority: Chancellor (the Emperor himself); the Board of Governors, composed of ministers and members of the royal family; and the Faculty Council, made up of the university officers, deans, directors and elected members. The Faculty later became the Senate. In 1977, Duri Mohammed was appointed president of AAU, under his leadership the academy was preserved and even saw its resurgence despite the turbulent times amid the Ethiopian inserruction. The AAU also lost its relative autonomy when it was brought under the Commission for Higher Education, which came to exercise administrative jurisdiction over all institutions of higher learning. In 1993, AAU was placed under the Ministry of Education by a government proclamation. The incoming transitional government appointed Duri Mohammed as president once again, a purging of 42 staff members which included Asrat Woldeyes and former president Alemayehu Teferra ensued.

Influence

Over and above their academic pursuits, AAU students have been actively engaged in community service (such as conducting literacy programs) and political struggle, particularly in the years before the 1974 revolution. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, students were required to do a year of national service under the Ethiopia University Service program. University teachers and students were instrumental in exposing the hidden 1973 famine and launching the first famine relief program. The Ethiopian Student Movement, of which the university was the birthplace and main venue, played a pivotal role in bringing about the revolution. Almost all leaders of the political organizations that were active in the revolutionary years or are in power now had their political formation inside the university. In 2013/2014, there were 33,940 undergraduate students, 13,000 graduate students, and 1,733 PhD students, making a total student body of 48,673.

Campuses and colleges

Colleges

• College of Biological Engineering
• College of Social Sciences
• College of Humanities, Language Studies, Journalism and communication
• College of Development Studies
• College of Business and Economics
• College of Law and Governance Studies
• College of Education and Behavioral Studies
• College of Natural and Computational Sciences
• Skunder Boghossian College of Performing and Visual Arts
• College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture
• College of Health Science

Research and teaching institutes

• Academy of Ethiopian Languages and Cultures
• Addis Ababa Institute of Technology
• Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology
• Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development
• Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources
• Institute of Biotechnology
• Institute of Educational Research
• Institute of Ethiopian Studies
• Institute of Geophysics, Space Science and Astronomy
• Institute of Peace and Security Studies
• Horn of Africa Regional Center and Environment Network
• Institute of Development and Policy Research/IDPR/

Schools

• Alle School of Fine Arts and Design
• School of Allied Health Sciences
• School of Commerce
• School of Earth Sciences
• School of Information Science
• School of Journalism and Communications
• School of Medicine
• School of Pharmacy
• School of Public health
• School of Social Work
• Yared School of Music
• Yoftahe Nigussie School of Theatrical Arts

Notable dropouts

• Isaias Afwerki abandoned his studies in 1966 and traveled to Kassala, Sudan to join the Eritrean Liberation Front.
• Meles Zenawi in 1975 left the university to join the Tigray People's Liberation Front and fight against the Derg (the Mengistu Haile Mariam-led military government in Ethiopia).

Notable alumni

Prime Ministers

• Hailemariam Desalegn (Ethiopia) (2012–2018)
• Abiy Ahmed (Ethiopia) (2018–)

Presidents

• Rupiah Banda (Zambia) (1959–1960)

Administrators

• Mustafa Mohoumed Omer (president of the Somali Region) (2018-)
• Duri Mohammed (AAU president) (1977–1985) & (1993–1995)
• Ali Abdo (mayor of Addis Ababa) (1997–2001)
• Hirut Woldemariam (AAU vice president) (2012–2014)

Physicists

• Mulugeta Bekele

Historians

• Taddesse Tamrat
• Kinfe Abraham
• Merid Wolde Aregay
• Bahru Zewde
• Mohammed Hassen

Biologists

• Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher
• Legesse Wolde-Yohannes
• Sebsebe Demissew
• Segenet Kelemu
• Masresha Fetene

Engineers

• Simegnew Bekele

Chemists

• Sinknesh Ejigu

Linguists

• Azeb Amha

Pharmacologists

• Eleni Aklillu

Anthropologists

• Berhane Asfaw
• Yohannes Haile-Selassie
• Zeresenay Alemseged

Authors

• Hama Tuma
• Sebhat Gebre-Egziabher
• Baalu Girma
• Bewketu Seyoum

Economics

• Duri Mohammed
• Berhanu Nega

Judges

• Kemal Bedri

Lawyers

• Birtukan Mideksa

Linguists

• Azeb Amha
• Hirut Woldemariam

Obstetrician-gynecologist

• Lia Tadesse

See also

• List of universities and colleges in Ethiopia
• Education in Ethiopia

References

1. "AAU History of the Presidency". Addis Ababa University. 2018. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
2. "AAU at a glance". Addis Ababa University. 28 December 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
3. Trudeau, Eduard (1964). Higher Education in Ethiopia. Montreal.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
4. Three Decades of University Education. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University. 1980.
5. ^ Haile, Fisseha. "Addis Ababa University: a Study of an Institution 1961–1981". PICES. 1: 491–507.
6. Semru, Mulugeta. "The Development of Higher Education in Ethioipa". PICES. 1: 215–231.
7. ^ Balsvik, Randi Rønning (2009). "Addis Ababa University in the Shadow of the Derg, 1974-1991". Proceedings of the 16th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies: 265.
8. ^ Wagaw, Teshome (1990). The Development of Higher Education and Social Change, an Ethiopian Experience. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press.
9. Report of the Addis Ababa University Revitalization Study Committee (PDF). Ethiopian Ministry of Education. 2020. p. 49.
10. "AAU Leadership". Addis Ababa University.
11. Taye Assefa (2008). Academic Freedom in Ethiopia Perspectives of Teaching Personnel. Forum for Social Studies. p. 47. ISBN 978-99944-50-20-6.
12. 42 University instructors dismissed on political grounds to be reinstated. borkena. 24 July 2018.
13. "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023". shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
14. "QS World University Rankings: Addis Ababa University". Top Universities. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
15. U.S. News. "Addis Ababa University". Retrieved 27 February 2024.
16. "ISAIAS AFWERKI (1946- )". Blackpast. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
17. "I Am Overwhelmed By the Appointment, Says Banda".
18. "Aklillu Eleni". The African Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.

External links

• Addis Ababa University official website
• Institute of Ethiopian Studies and the Ethnological Museum
• Contact information for Addis Ababa University, and 28 Ethiopian institutions of higher education in the African Higher Education Database

v t e Association of African Universities
Algeria	Algiers 1 University Constantine 1 University Oran 1 University University of Ouargla University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene
Angola	Agostinho Neto University
Benin	University of Abomey-Calavi
Botswana	Botho University Botswana Accountancy College Botswana International University of Science and Technology Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Botswana
Burkina Faso	Nazi Boni University University of Ouagadougou
Burundi	University of Burundi
Cameroon	University of Bamenda University of Buea University of Douala University of Dschang University of Maroua University of Ngaoundéré University of Yaoundé I
Cape Verde	Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde
Central African Republic	EUCLID University of Bangui
Chad	University of N'Djamena
Republic of the Congo	Marien Ngouabi University
Cote d'Ivoire	International University of Grand-Bassam Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Catholic University of Bukavu University of Kinshasa University of Kisangani University of Lubumbashi
Egypt	Ain Shams University Al-Azhar University Alexandria Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology Alexandria University Benha University Cairo University Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology Egyptian e-Learning University Helwan University Mansoura University Menoufia University Minya University Misr University for Science and Technology October 6 University Pharos University in Alexandria South Valley University Suez Canal University Tanta University The American University in Cairo The British University in Egypt University of Sadat City Zagazig University
Eritrea	University of Asmara
Eswatini	University of Eswatini
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa Science and Technology University Addis Ababa University Ethiopian Civil Service University Haramaya University Hawassa University Jimma University Mekelle University St. Mary's University Wollega University
Gabon	Omar Bongo University
Ghana	Accra Institute of Technology Accra Technical University African University College of Communications All Nations University Ashesi University Bluecrest University College Central University George Grant University of Mines and Technology Ghana Institute of Languages Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration Koforidua Technical University Kumasi Technical University Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Methodist University College Ghana Pentecost University Presbyterian University College Radford University College Regent University College of Science and Technology Regional Maritime University University for Development Studies University of Cape Coast University of Education, Winneba University of Energy and Natural Resources University of Ghana University of Health and Allied Sciences University of Professional Studies University of Media, Arts and Communication Valley View University Wisconsin International University College Zenith University College
Kenya	African Virtual University Catholic University of Eastern Africa Daystar University Dedan Kimathi University of Technology Egerton University International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Kenyatta University Maseno University Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Moi University Mount Kenya University Multimedia University of Kenya South Eastern Kenya University Strathmore University Umma University University of Eldoret University of Nairobi
Lesotho	National University of Lesotho
Liberia	Cuttington University Stella Maris Polytechnic University United Methodist University
Libya	Al Asmarya University for Islamic Sciences Al Zawiya University Misurata University Sabha University University of Benghazi University of Tripoli
Madagascar	University of Antananarivo University of Toamasina University of Toliara
Malawi	Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Malawi University of Science and Technology UNICAF University of Malawi
Mali	University of Bamako
Mauritania	University of Nouakchott Al Aasriya
Mauritius	Open University of Mauritius University of Mauritius University of Technology, Mauritius
Morocco	Mohammed First University Mohammed V University University of al-Qarawiyyin
Mozambique	Catholic University of Mozambique Eduardo Mondlane University Maputo University
Namibia	International University of Management Namibia University of Science and Technology University of Namibia
Niger	Abdou Moumouni University Higher Institute of Mining, Industry and Geology Maryam Abacha American University Niger
Nigeria	Abia State University Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Adamawa State University Ahmadu Bello University Al-Hikmah University Babcock University Bayero University Bells University of Technology Bowen University Crawford University Delta State University, Abraka Ebonyi State University Federal University of Technology, Minna Federal University of Technology, Owerri Federal University of Technology, Yola Gombe State University Kogi State University Kwara State University Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Michael Okpara University of Agriculture National Open University of Nigeria Niger Delta University Nnamdi Azikiwe University Osun State University Pan-Atlantic University Redeemer's University Rivers State University University of Abuja University of Africa University of Agriculture, Abeokuta University of Agriculture, Makurdi University of Benin University of Calabar University of Ibadan University of Ilorin University of Lagos University of Port Harcourt University of Uyo Usman Dan Fodio University
Rwanda	Université Nationale du Rwanda
Sierra Leone	Njala University University of Sierra Leone
Somalia	Benadir University East Africa University Puntland State University
South Africa	Cape Peninsula University of Technology Central University of Technology Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University North-West University Rhodes University University of Cape Town University of Fort Hare University of Johannesburg University of KwaZulu-Natal University of the Free State University of Limpopo University of Pretoria University of South Africa University of Stellenbosch University of the Western Cape University of the Witwatersrand University of Venda University of Zululand Walter Sisulu University
South Sudan	University of Juba
Sudan	El Imam El Mahdi University Omdurman Ahlia University Red Sea University University of Science and Technology
Tanzania	Ardhi University Muslim University of Morogoro Mzumbe University St. Augustine University of Tanzania The Open University of Tanzania University of Dar es Salaam Zanzibar University
The Gambia	University of the Gambia
Togo	Université de Lomé
Uganda	Busitema University Uganda Christian University Uganda Management Institute Uganda Martyrs University
Zambia	Cavendish University Copperbelt University Mulungushi University University of Zambia Zambian Open University
Zimbabwe	Africa University Bindura University of Science Education Chinhoyi University of Technology Great Zimbabwe University Harare Institute of Technology Lupane State University Midlands State University National University of Science and Technology University of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Open University

v t e Addis Ababa
History	Timeline
Districts	Addis Ketema Akaky Kaliti Arada Bole Gullele Kirkos Kolfe Keranio Lemi Kura Lideta Nifas Silk-Lafto Yeka
Squares	Meyazia 27 Square Meskel Square Yekatit 12 monument
Transport	Bole International Airport Lideta Army Airport (former) Addis Ababa Light Rail
Landmarks	Addis Ababa National Stadium Abebe Bikila Stadium Addis Ababa Zoo African Union Headquarters Arat Kilo Monument Ethiopian Parliament Building Menelik Palace National Palace
Education	Tertiary Addis Ababa University Primary/ secondary Lycée Guebre-Mariam (French school) German Embassy School Addis Ababa Istituto Statale Italiano Omnicomprensivo di Addis Abeba International Community School of Addis Ababa Bingham Academy One Planet International School St Joseph's School, Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

• Addis Ababa University
• Universities and colleges in Ethiopia
• 1950 establishments in Ethiopia
• Universities and colleges established in 1950
• Haile Selassie