Waltenigus Mekonnen (PhD), Dean of the Faculty of Humanities
Humanities are academic fields that study the various aspects of human society and culture to grasp general knowledge and spark public curiosity about the lives and relationships of all segments of the society. In the pursuit for the development of this knowledge, humanities use critical methods, which are characterized by careful evaluation and judgment that require critical reasoning and problem solving skills.
As noted above, the primary purpose of education in the Humanities is to give students opportunities that help them develop critical thinking skills, appreciation of literature, understanding of cultures and the art of communication... The overriding concern of the fields of humanities is to understand social realities and relationships with regard to the natural complexity of culture, language and communication. Thus, as part of a national mission to inculcate and instill in our students with the essence and passion of studying the humanities, the faculty has so far launched the departments of Ethiopian Language(s) and Literature – Amharic, Ethiopian Language(s) & Literature – Afan Oromo, English Language & Literature, Ge’ez, Journalism & Communication and Folklore. These departments commit their students to teaching and researching in ancient & modern languages, teaching mother tongue & foreign languages, literature, communication and culture which are, indeed, among the core subject/thematic areas of humanities.
The Faculty of Humanities is guided by the core values of BDU which are stated in the university’s legislation Article 5: pursuit of wisdom, excellence, innovation, social responsibilities, diversity and internalization. Research is also the major undertaking of the faculty where several multidisciplinary scientific studies are being conducted to achieve the goal of the university, which is to be one of the best research universities in Africa. In order to accomplish this goal, the Faculty is expanding its postgraduate programs. Currently, in addition to the existing 10 Masters and 4 PhD programs, the faculty is designing viable postgraduate programs that prepare knowledgeable and skilled graduates who cater to the developmental needs of the country. Besides, the Faculty of Humanities is making major advances in updating its image by recruiting teaching staff, creating international academic collaborations and equipping its language and journalism laboratories and studios, and by providing e-learning equipment and trainings for instructors. These relentless initiatives have enabled us to involve instructors in the virtual learning system that has proved a resounding academic success in the face of COVID-19.
