Educational quality of a given country has a direct impact on the social and economic structure of any country. The more the nation invests in educational infrastructure the more it can produce responsible citizens that can serve as a backbone for economic sustenance and the political stability of the country.
In this respect, the extent of quality education offered by universities and higher education institutes plays a significant role in ensuring economic progress and shaping the future of the society.
The experience of several economically advanced countries attested that the level of quality education that higher educational institutes provide to their society is directly impacting their economy and they are able to create a stable society which is guided by principles and strategies. In contrast, those countries that neglect the value of quality education; but give more emphasis to producing a higher number of graduates are seen suffering from economic impairment.
Using this as an experience and a lesson, the Ethiopian government is working aggressively to further improve the educational quality of the nation. This is especially true following the political reform of the nation where several economic sectors, including education, were revised and reformed for the good of the people. As part of this effort, the government has been striving to improve the quality of education at all levels, the concept of university autonomy has emerged as a key factor to achieve academic excellence and produce productive graduates that can serve as an engine to the overall economic progress of the nation.
Recently, Ethiopian Public Universities’ Transition to Autonomy Conference was held here in Addis Ababa. On the event, where the US Embassy in Addis Ababa has truly shown unceasing commitment for transition processes by providing financial support and training and presidents of several public universities have participated, several issues were entertained regarding Universities’ autonomy. Scholars from Addis Ababa University leadership team have also shared their experiences to other public universities to follow suit.
Speaking at the event, Addis Ababa University Interim President Samuel Kifle (PhD) said that the input and experiences from AAU team will develop stronger, more enduring policies that will not only ensure AAU`s success as a newly autonomous university, but also providing invaluable templates and models for the other public universities transitioning to autonomy as they develop their own policies and frameworks.
According to him, the path towards autonomy is not easy but both the challenges and opportunities must be taken as an input to achieve target goals.
Speaking on her part, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, Naomi Fellows said that the transition of public universities into self-autonomy will empower them to serve their students effectively.
Mentioning her government`s commitment to support the transition process and the two countries` strong bilateral relations, Fellows said that the U.S government and U.S universities are always ready to support the transition efforts.
“In the spirit of the Point Four program and the 120th anniversary of U.S.-Ethiopian relations, we want to assure you that the U.S. government and U.S. universities are your closest allies in this critical moment in the Ethiopian higher education system.”In an exclusive interview with journalists, Chief Executive Officer for Governance and Infrastructure at the Ministry of Education Solomon Abrha (PhD) said that over the past few years the government has been aggressively working to ensure quality education all over the country and effective results are being witnessed in higher educational institutes.
The various expansion projects the government has been engaged in have provided opportunities for thousands of Ethiopians to access quality education. Despite all the efforts and positive results, there are several areas that still need further research and alternative approaches to narrow the gap.
According to him, university autonomy is one approach that is anticipated to ensure quality education and avoid unnecessary financial burden on the government.
Solomon said that studies conducted in higher educational institutes reveal that efficiency and performance still needs intervention. In this regard, university autonomy is taken as one approach to ensure educational quality. To the success of this approach, several studies and legal works have been conducted and; the Addis Ababa University has legally become a pioneer university in becoming an autonomous institute.
Stating the experience of universities in developed countries and highly privileged higher educational institutes in Africa, Solomon said that university Autonomy has a multidimensional role in ensuring academic excellence and academic freedom.
As indicated by officials from Ministry of Education and other scholars in the workshop, the transition of Ethiopian public universities to autonomous governance constitutes a general change in the nation`s higher education system, allowing public universities to chart their own paths towards greater academic freedom, increased financial control, enhance linkages with domestic and international partners and most importantly, improved quality education.
Academic autonomy allows Ethiopian universities to foster a culture of research excellence by providing scholars the freedom to explore unconventional ideas, conduct groundbreaking research works, and contribute to knowledge creation in various fields.
What is more, academic autonomy enables them to uphold intellectual diversity by encouraging open dialogue, promoting critical thinking, and the exchange of ideas among students, faculties, and researchers without external interference. The correlation between educational quality and university autonomy is evident in the positive impact that autonomy has on academic freedom, curriculum development, quality assurance and institutional management.
By promoting university autonomy and addressing associated challenges, Ethiopia can further enhance the quality of education offered by its universities, empower students to succeed in a competitive global environment, and contribute to the country’s socio-economic development. In this regard, enhancing educational quality through curriculum development and quality assurance needs to be given prior attention. The more universities invest their time and energy on designing and updating curriculum to align with industry demands, global trends and emerging fields, the more they ensure that students receive relevant and high-quality education.
Indeed, academic autonomy is instrumental in empowering Ethiopian universities to uphold academic freedom, enhance educational quality, strengthen institutional governance, foster innovation, and nurture collaborative partnerships. By leveraging academic autonomy effectively, universities can continue to be centers of excellence in higher education, research, and innovation in Ethiopia and even beyond.
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 6 JUNE 2024
