BA in Governance and Development Studies
Background
Nowadays the issues of “good governance” and "development" are being seen as effective instruments to address the socio economic and political problems of both the developed and developing nations. Thus, they have become a center of attention for most local, national, and international development actors across the world.
Based on this assertion, many scholars associate the underdevelopment of developing countries, including Ethiopia, with the lack of good governance and adequate development initiatives. Promoting good governance and generating effective development initiatives, therefore, are recommended as effective remedial measures for the problem under consideration.
At the current stage, developing countries including Ethiopia have great concern in the area to achieve sustainable development through good governance. Therefore, there is a high need to take actions to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality. This can be attainable by skilled human power though there is high shortage of skilled human resource in the field of governance and development studies. One of the ways to tackle this rampant problem is to train skilled manpower.
In this regard, the former curriculum adopted in 2010 has been playing its positive role in producing qualified professionals in the area. But, on the other hand, after three years of its implementation the curriculum is found to be revised to make it more effective and efficient in its touch with realities on the ground.
Thus, the curriculum under consideration is revised on the ground that it would contribute its part to meet the required needs of both governmental and nongovernmental development agents which are engaging to ensure good governance and sustainable development in Ethiopia. Meanwhile, it is also revised in such a way that will provide practical solution for fundamental problems that widely observed in governance and developmental realms in Ethiopia.
In effect, the revised curriculum bases itself on five tracks; (the Governance and Development track, the Law track, The Management track and the Common course track), based on the fact that the two important issues which constitute the heart of the program; Governance and Development strongly correlates with ideas from different academic disciplines such as political science, international relations, development studies, public administration, management, and law
General Objective
The program is envisioned that by providing the students with adequate knowledge, appropriate values ,skills, techniques to meet the need of government and other development agents in realizing good governance and sustainable development in Ethiopia.
Specific Objectives
The program is focused on developing the students' abilities in the following areas:
- To equip graduates with the knowledge of governance and development theories, perspectives, paradigms, ideas and concepts that promote understanding of development trends and issues; analysis of current models to develop new strategies, policies and concepts according to the country's needs at the national and local levels;
- To provide graduates with the knowledge of contemporary political, legal, economic and social issues and challenges that impede or promote development and governance endeavors in countries like Ethiopia;
- To equip graduates with the knowledge of Administration and Management Techniques: development planning, project management, human resource management, conflict management, organization development, monitoring and evaluation, and financial management;
- To equip graduates with intellectual, professional and participatory skill such as: leadership and administrative skills, problem- solving skill, research and policy analysis skill, project planning and management skill, advisory and consultancy skill ,conflict management skill, etc;
- To provide specific human resource management skills including group work, negotiation, conflict management and political skills;
- To portray techniques in conducting research: assessment of development needs, constraints, resources, socio-economic and environmental impact assessment, development and policy analysis, etc;
- To provide understanding about the socio-political dynamics of development and good governance based on research and scholarly analysis;
- To provide understanding about the reality of Ethiopian society and scrutinize its problem in order to provide long lasting solutions in the area of governance and development; and
- To cultivate and develop positive attitudes and desired character treats in graduates such as accountability, responsibility, integrity, loyalty, civic mindedness, open mindedness, tolerance, patriotism and etc.
- To be center of academic excellence in research and publications of governance and development affairs. it also serves as a forum for foundation theory of knowledge, values and skills and new paradigms of thought in development and governance area for students who are interested in the subject area.
Graduate Profile
Up on completion of the program, graduates will:
- Evaluate their working practice with rigor based on the political and development theories and processes that they learned
- Applying appropriate professional skills including effective leadership and administration, project planning and managing, mobilizing and organizing resources, monitoring and evaluating work activities in their respective organizations.
- Evaluate governance and development issues in their social, cultural, economic political, historical, legal and technological contexts and
- Develop appropriate coping mechanisms and interventions pertinent to global, regional and local contexts;
- Coordinate and administer effectively both governmental and non-governmental organizations
- Implement, monitor and evaluate development projects effectively within time and structural constraints
- Identify, critically access, analyze and solve socio-economic and political problems in scientific ways
- Develop ideas logically and apply evidence based decisions and provide advice with regard to governance and development issues.
- Analyze existing development policies and strategies and forward a concomitant suggestions
- Work co-operatively with diverse groups and individuals, both within their respective organizations and other stakeholders
- Contribute effectively to collective projects and to determine criteria for evaluating their own and others’ work performance
- Judge the dynamism of the environment and utilize their skills to suit changing situations
