Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU) was established in 2011 to be a leading science and technology education and research institution. The institution was established to promote innovation, research, and driving industrial developments and its programs mainly focus on engineering, applied sciences, technology, and Information Communication technology (ICT) fields. Through these fields, the university is empowering science and technology education and research institution specialists to support the country’s scientific and technological advancements.
Since its establishment, the university has graduated educated professionals in the engineering sector. In so doing it has contributed their share to the country’s skilled human resource development.
Parallel to the formal task of offering formal education for higher education students, AASTU jointly with STEM Power Ethiopia, established the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Center in 2016. Since its establishment, The STEM Center has provided training for talented high school students, from grade 9-12. By receiving young and talented students from different schools found in Akaki Kality sub-city, the center provides practical training for young students in science and technology fields, including robotics, electronics, embedded systems and related courses.
Four teams of AASTU STEM-trained competition were organized at Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) hall two weeks ago. Fish Farming Robot, Braille Bot, Hydroponic Smart Agriculture Robot and Meal Mate Robot were the projects presented by AASTU STEM Center trained youths during the competition where the Fish Farming Robot project ranked third at the national competition. The Fish Farming Robot was designed targeting ensuring food security and environmental conservation and wise use of limited resources.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald, AASTU STEM Center Coordinator Yalemseged Morede said that the center is offering practical training for talented students from elementary to preparatory level. The STEM Center of AASTU has also a Science Museum, according to Yalemseged. The STEM Center provides training courses in chemistry, biology, math, physics, and practical training like robotics, electronics and embedded systems.
According to Yalemseged, the training provided by the STEM Center are practicably lab-based trainings. The training provided for one year for the selected students and the center of the university has the capacity of accepting 300 students, the coordinator reiterated. The training has three phases; Yalemseged stated that the first training phase is provided for two months. After two months of extensive training, an exam is prepared and those who passed the exam will join level 2 of the training.
In level 2, the trainees take four courses, electronics, embedded systems, programming and solid work like CAD (Computer Aided Design) software. The programming training was designed to help trainees to develop skills in developing robots and other applications. The solid-work CAD (Computer Aided Design) software training is designed to develop the student’s skills in efficient design. After taking all these four courses properly, in two months; the trainees take an exam where the successful trainees join the third phase of the STEM training, according to Yalemseged.
Level 3 of the training is the project level in which the trainees undertake engineering (STEM) projects. At this level, there are two phases, the coordinator stated. During the first two months of training in level 3 the trainees join the project-A team. In project-A of level 3, the trainees takes practical training on robotics and related courses and at the same time, they also undertake a mini-project. At this level, the trainees are expected to design and develop a STEM project in team which is a reflection of the previous classes they took in level-1 and level 2. It helps the trainees to practically apply the previous classes by developing a project.
At Project A in level 3, the students are expected to develop soft and hard skills as they undertake practical STEM projects with their designs and ideas. They join the workshop and use different materials to undertake the task. At this level, in addition to developing practical machine operating skills, the students are expected to develop their ideas, develop designs, and start cutting and fixing materials using different machine-related materials. In addition to machine-related practical activities, the students develop skills in electronics. This level encourages the trainees to develop their skills by designing, fixing, and producing their projects with continuous follow-up from their trainers.
“This stage is the stage where the trainees develop practical STEM subjects by translating the ideas they got into practical projects. They are expected to practice designing and producing their own STEM project,” Yalemseged noted. Through this way, the students develop their theoretical and practical skills in STEM education. According to the coordinator, the project task takes two months and after two months, the trainees present the projects they developed to the STEM Center. Project competition is prepared after the students complete the two-month projects. And the best project is awarded by the center, as to the coordinator.
In level 3, those who completed the project task in Project-A level join project-B level, which is an advanced project team, according to the AASTU STEM Center Coordinator. “The robotics project presented here at the National Robotics Competition representing AASTU STEM Center are products of the students who completed the above phases properly,” Yalemseged noted adding that the students graduate after a year after developing practical projects. In addition to the formal task in research and higher education services, with its STEM Center, AASTU is cultivating future scientists, researchers, innovators, and other professionals by nurturing the talents of the youth as early as possible.
In addition to the STEM Center, which provides training mainly for high school and preparatory students, ASSTU has also established Kids Science Experiment Program in 2024, Yalemseged said. The Kids Science Experiment Program, according to him, focuses on physics, chemistry and related training to grade seven and grade eight students. The STEM Center training mostly focuses on high school and preparatory students while the Kids Science Experiment focuses on middle school students targeting nurturing the talents of the kids in STEM as early as possible.
“The Kids Science Experiment program was started in summer 2024, during the break season. The first training program was provided for middle school students during the past two months of the summer season. It was successful,” he stated. The program will continue and increase by developing its accepting capacity and by modifying the program. “By studying the curriculum and the courses to make it suitable for the kids, the program will continue to nurture the talents of kids in STEM education,” Yalemseged noted.
AASTU also has a value-added lab center. At the lab, the trainees get training in manufacturing soap and detergents, paper manufacturing practices, and other related practical pieces of training. Yalemseged stated that AASTU’s STEM Center has the capacity to accept 300 students in one round of training, which is a year-long training. During the academic time, the training is given during weekend days, and during the break time, the training is provided from Monday to Friday.
The efforts being undertaken by AASTU in nurturing and cultivating the talents of the youth parallel to its formal task in the teaching-learning process is contributing its share in promoting the next generation of scientists, technology professionals, and innovators. Such institutional efforts should be promoted and replicated in other higher education institutions and other research centers.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER 2024
