BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
Every year, the Addis Ababa University (AAU) organizes an annual Research and Book Fairs Week; and this year’s program was opened with the theme: “Fostering Socioeconomic Development at the Core of Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” at Nelson Mandela Hall, Sidest Kilo Campus.
The Annual Research and Book Fair was attended by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, Planning and Development Minister Fistum Assefa, Minister of Innovation and Technology Belete Molla, senior public officials, members of the university community, as well as other invited guests. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide said that Ethiopia is achieving continuous economic growth for the reason it has been implementing homegrown economic reforms; and over the years, some successes are recorded. However, there are still some challenges; that need to be addressed. And, the active participation of higher education institutions in addressing the challenges through conducting problem solving research and innovation is indispensable, he stressed.
“We have a lot of homework to do, especially in terms of increasing production and productivity,” he said, adding this will be solved through research. To this effect, higher education institutions should do more in generating ideas that can be used as policy inputs through producing problem solving research findings, he emphasized From this point of view, Ahmed added that the research week organized by the Addis Ababa University is very useful to disseminate ideas that can be used as policy inputs.
Minister of Planning and Development, Fistum Assefa said on her part that higher education institutions should play their part in the effort to address the challenges relating to job creation and food security in Ethiopia. The Addis Ababa University should work on tailoring a sustainable solution for such problems using its extensive experience, she said, adding that the Ministry is committed to work with higher education institutions to speed up the country’s economy.
The President of Addis Ababa University, Prof. Tassew Woldehanna also said that the University is working to find solutions to the various problems of the society. He stated that currently the University is preparing to become an autonomous institution, which will help it to strengthen its activities. Annual research and book fairs provide a platform for students to showcase their research work. These fairs provide an opportunity for students to present their research findings to a wider audience and receive feedback on their work from experts. This feedback can help students to improve their work and develop better research skills. It provides an opportunity for researchers to share their work with other researchers in their field.
This can lead to collaborations between researchers and can result in the development of new ideas and research topics. This can also help researchers to stay up-to-date with the latest research in their field and to identify areas for further research. It is an opening for faculty members to showcase their research work and share their knowledge with students. This in turn inspires students to pursue research and foster a culture of research within the institution, promoting the institution to the wider community. These fairs provide an opportunity for the institution to showcase its research capabilities and can help to attract funding and partnerships.He called on respective public and private higher education institutions and stakeholders to expedite efforts in strengthening efforts in advancing the human capital development for skilled human capital at set standards.
According to him, skilled human capital is a crucial component in the development of any nation. Human capital refers to the knowledge, skills, and abilities of people, and their ability to contribute to economic growth and development. Firstly, skilled human capital is essential for economic growth. Skilled workers are more productive, which can lead to higher economic output. Skilled workers are more innovative, which can lead to the development of new products and services. This can help to create new industries and expand existing ones, leading to job creation and higher economic growth.
Furthermore, skilled human capital is essential for the development of infrastructure. Well educated and talented human capitals are needed to design, build, and maintain infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings. Without skilled workers, infrastructure projects may be delayed or may not be completed to the required standard, which can impede economic growth. It is high time to produce skilled human capital in various competencies as Ethiopia is found at the juncture of striving to develop and ensure food security. Temesegen Takele a resident of Addis Ababa told this reporter that the Book Fair is a great opportunity for families and researchers because it lets them access books at a fair price. “I have witnessed a number of fellow citizens and foreigners purchasing books. I collected two supplementary books for my kids.”
In my view, the annual research and book fairs can help to instill the culture of reading and learning among students. Readers could access a wide range of books on various topics, including fiction and non-fiction, as well as academic books. In turn, this can encourage students to read more and develop a habit of lifelong learning. This kind of book fair should be conducted at all higher education institutions. “I want to commend the effort of Addis Ababa University in availing the annual book fairs,” he concluded. This year’s research week was organized by the College of Business and Economics of the University, it was learnt.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 23 MAY 2023
