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BDU: Representatives of Ethiopian Higher Institutions, including Bahir Dar University, have participated in a bilateral discussion on the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) under the auspice of Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry for Water, Irrigation and Energy of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The discussion was aimed at building win-win bilateral relations between Ethiopian Universities and the University of Khartoum. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dina Mufti, said on the occasion that Ethiopia’s foreign policy has been founded based on the fundamental pillars of development, democracy, peace and stability. The cooperation between Nile riparian countries should be based on the rational utilization of the Nile, the Spokesperson emphasized. Ethiopia is undertaking the construction of its grand dam in an endeavor to defeat poverty. A bilateral diplomatic discussion, based mutual respect, will continue to be Ethiopia’s approach of building a healthy and rational dialogue with riparian countries, Ambassador Dina Mufti stressed. “Centuries old and imperialistic monopoly over Nile has come to an end.” Representatives from Ethiopian Higher Institutions, Ethiopian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Ministry for Water, Irrigation and Khartoum University were among the attendees. Lively discussions were made among the participants. Ethiopian Higher Institutions’ Intellectual Forum on the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), in which Field Marshal Omar Hassan Al-Basher, the President of the Republic of Sudan participated, has previously been held at Bhair Dar University on 28th April, 2014.

Four Howard University students led by Professor Patterson have arrived in Bahir Dar University. They will be staying at Bahir Dar University for this summer to carry out researches. Bahir Dar University is building a good relationship with Howard University,USA

BDU: Delegates from Jiangxi Province of People’s Republic of China (PRC), lead by Her Excellency Ms. Xie Ru, Jiangxi Provincial Vice Governor, have visited Bahir Dar University as part of the bilateral cooperation between Jiangxi Province and the Amhara National Regional States (ANRS). Welcoming and thanking the delegates, the president of Bahir Dar University, Dr. Baylie Damtie said on the event that Bahir Dar University aspires to work in cooperation with Jiangxi Province Universities on areas of molding competent global citizens capable of creating wealth and innovation. Dr. Baylie has also highlighted that Bahir Dar University shares common destiny with Jiangxi Province Universities since Bahir Dar University also prioritizes researches and outreach programs. Portraying universities as a magnet for manufacturing industries and engine of start ups, Dr. Baylie has underlined that Bahir Dar University seeks to take crucial lesson from Jiangxi Province Universities on areas of rural transformation and agriculture. The Managing Director of the Jiangxi Province International Economic and Technical Cooperation of People’s Republic of China (PRC), Mr. Xiong Tao, has suggested that Jiangxi Province and the Amhara National Regional States (ANRS) could share experiences on the production of fish and rice. Bahir Dar University and Jiangxi Province Universities will be cooperating on diverse issue in the future

BDU honors Obasanjo, graduates 6600

BDU: Bahir Dar University has awarded degrees to 6600 graduates at colorful ceremony witnessed by ambassadors, ministers and families of the graduates.

During the function, the University also conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Laws (Honoris causa) to former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo for his outstanding contributions towards good governance, peace and conflict resolution and development in Africa.

Speaking during the graduation, Saturday July 5, 2014, the University’s President Dr. Baylie Damtie affirmed the need for graduands to contextualize knowledge and skills gained during their study by relating it to real life Ethiopian situations as most available books and paradigms were of other countries context. He asserted the University’s commitment to be responsive to societal needs and aspirations.

Dr. Baylie advised graduates to exert their utmost effort in an attempt to create wealth which could benefit themselves and their country.

“The University is committed to enable the nation bring the desired economic structural change to make sure that job creation and sustainable development is achieved at national level.’’

The chief guest Kassa Tekle Berhan, who is also the Speaker of the House of Federation called on graduates to work hard in an endeavor to enable the nation propel to greater heights. He pointed out that the nation was in dire need for human power than any other time in its history.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Tedros Adhanom stressed on the need for graduates to be visionary in order to transform Ethiopia.

“This is the day you promise to serve this great nation,” said Dr. Tedros in his message to the graduates.

In his acceptance speech, Hon. Obasanjo advised African universities to focus on studying African challenges and find suitable and lasting solutions to them.

He urged African University’s to focus on: African leadership practices and deficit to show the way forward, structural change of the African economy and, the preparation for students to handle diversity in Africa.

In its effort to promote innovation and research, the university gave special recognition to students who carried out consummate research projects.

BDU:Bahir Dar University held colorful graduation ceremony on July 5, 2014.The University awarded degrees to 6600 graduates in the presence of Ministers, Ambassadors and families of graduates.

During the function, The University also conferred Honorary Doctorate Degree in Laws to former President of Nigeria Honorable Olusegun Obasanjo for his outstanding contributions in the areas of Good Governance, Peace and Conflict resolution and Development in Africa.

Bahir Dar University awarded the degree as part of its strategy to transform the university in to one of best research hub on African soil.

Bahir Dar University is currently operating under the guidance of vision 2025 in which it set a destiny of becoming one of the top ten premier research institutions in Africa by 2025. It is plain that the university would achieve its goal if it can create skilled individual researchers.

The Blue Nile Book Club of the Faculty of Social Sciences has recently conducted a cross-faculty and multi-disciplinary discourse on research paradigms and methodologies. The objective of the program was to create a dialogue among faculty staff on issues pertaining to research paradigms and methodologies.

Various philosophical paradigms focusing on the ontological and epistemological foundations of human understanding of the world with particular focus on their implications in social science research have been discussed.

Specific issues related to positivism, structuralism, empiricism, ethnography, postmodernism, social constructivism etc. were presented and lively discussions were made. The discourse was so Socratic that a lot of critical questions were raised from the audience and thorough discussions were made.

The philosophical paradigms were discussed with particular relation to research methods and methodologies. Both qualitative, quantitative and mixed research methods and methodologies were discussed in light of the grand research paradigms.

The program was unique in its kind since it is for the first time that a seminar with such a specific focus on research paradigms and methodologies has taken place in Bahir Dar University.

The Faculty of Social Sciences has a vision of continuously hosting such a methodology seminar on annual basis at university scale, inviting outstanding scholars with a rich knowledge and expertise in the area.

Faculty staff and students as well as instructors from other faculties have attended and enjoyed the seminar.Since such an intellectual venture is apparently at the heart of the true business of scholarship, it seems quite essential for other academic units of Bahir Dar University to draw on this necessary experience.

BDU: Bahir Dar University has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nyala University of the Republic of Sudan to work together in teaching-learning and research.

The cooperation will particularly gear toward staff-student exchange, research and cultural relations.

The President of Bahir Dar University, Dr. Baylie Damtie, said during the event that the collaboration will be based on mutual benefit. “Bahir Dar University will strive to work toward the realization of the agreement.”

Signing on behalf of Nyala University, Professor Ibrahim Mohammed Sherif, Vice President for Finance and Administration, has expressed that Nyala University would be committed to working with Bahir Dar University to assure the sister countries benefit from the cooperation.

Dr. Mohammud Adam, Director of External, Cultural and Scientific Relations, and Mr. Molla Ababu, Vice President for Information and Strategic Communications of Bahir Dar University have taken part in the function.

BDU:One might wonder what an Ethiopian intellectual would contemplate when he/she sees a young Ethiopian rural student walking to school barefoot wearing torn out clothes and holding an exercise book.

What would education be for such a child who leads uneasy life in desperate conditions? And what can intellectuals and higher education institutions do to give this child an opportunity of a better future?

Needless to say that education is a foundation of development. Humankind had been introduced to different revolutionary ideas that have been hatched at the heart of education at different junctions of history.

Science has put plane in the air, train on rail road and cars on streets. Millions of people around the world have been brought to the shining light of science. The ever-increasing pace of information exchange kept connecting people in this 21st century.

Education gave birth to numerous cutting-edge scientific researchers that kept on perfecting human’s quality of life. High speed internet currently revolutionizing humanity’s communication in an unprecedented height is the work of education.

Some nations around the world enjoy the blessing of extraordinary prosperity because of education. High skilled and visionary leaders guide their people to a better future through the light of education.

Education keeps on revolutionizing how we understand ourselves and our own very world. This happens, actually, only if science is meaningfully and contextually connected to the lives of people in a society.

Bahir Dar University has celebrated a foundation stone laying program to set up a research and community service centre at Milach Ber, found at Yilmana Densa Woreda of the Amhara National regional state (ANRS).

The project was intended to help the community through providing them with contextualized scientific knowledge in relation to education, health, agriculture, etc. The university aspires to link the institution to the people.

The people were very excited about what the university is planning to do, and the people, including women and children, moved in a big rally singing their traditional songs and performing their traditional folk practices.

The president of Bahir Dar University, Dr. Baylie Damtie, spoke to the crowd giving them a promise that the university has now moved to their world to extend its hand to help the people in their fight against poverty.

Thanking Bahir Dar University for its passionate aim of helping the community, the Chief Administrator of the Yilamna Densa Woreda has expressed his hope that Bahir Dar University would realize its vision and bring the people to the light of education.

The torch that seemed to have metaphorically represented the coming of the people to the light of education was lit, and was received by the people with an incredible ululation. The people have enthusiastically expressed their happiness.

Some elders representing the community have expressed their joy, for Bahir Dar University came to their very community to extend its hands. The people were definitely in a state of euphoria.

There seems nothing as pleasant to intellectuals as extending their hands to help those people who are in a desperate need of improvements. Connecting education to society is one the sacred missions of higher institutions.

Bahir Dar University has courageously began its vision of connecting people and science through establishing research and community service to build a platform where rural people enjoy the blessings of education.

BDU:The Faculty of Social Sciences at Bahir Dar University has recently conducted curriculum validation workshop aimed at commencing Masters of Arts (MA) programs in Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies and Heritage and Museum Management Studies by 2014/2015.

Professor Habtamu Wondimu, from Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) and Dr. Kasshaun Birhanu, Associate Professor of Political Science, both from Addis Ababa University, contributed invaluable input to the curricula. The scholars have noted that the programs are timely and important.

Mr. Yonas Adaye, lecturer at IPSS, Addis Ababa University, and other individuals from Culture and Tourism Bureau of the Amhara National Regional States (ANRS) were also on the curriculum validation program.

BDU’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Firew Tegegne, suggested the program focus on delivering relevant and contextual education that would help to generate knowledge with apparent institutional identity.

BDU:Bahir Dar University has inaugurated the founding of community-based research and community service centre at Milach Ber found in Yilmana Densa Woreda of the Amhara National Regional State (ANRS).

The centre was intended to contribute in the betterment of the lives of the people of the area through research and community services in different aspects like health, education, agriculture and in other crucial areas through concrete, contextualized and sustained scientific means.

The President of Bahir Dar University, Dr. Baylie Damtie, has outlined to the community, on the occasion, that Bahir Dar University has a vision of realizing multidirectional changes in the lives of people, connecting science to society.

“Bahir Dar University is yours; it is a place where many of your own children have been trained. Now, the university is here with you to be by your side in your endeavor of fighting poverty.” Dr. Baylie remarked.

Bahir Dar University’s researchers will closely cooperate with the people harnessing their productivity through scientific means and develop and utilizing indigenous knowledge, Dr. Baylie said.

Dr. Baylie also said that the centre would help the community in answering their diverse practical questions and handing down contextualized scientific knowledge that can help them improve their productivity and better their living conditions.

“We are here to answer your questions, to live with you, to work with you, to help you improve the education of you children, your agricultural produces and your health. Poverty can be defeated with knowledge.” Dr. Baylie underlined.

High ranking regional government officials, guests, university leaders and community, journalists and local musicians, elders and representatives of the community have colored the occasion.

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