Mission and Vision

 

The Center mainly works to enhance the academic and administrative staff’s engagement in meaningful teaching-learning process, research, and institutional and community services. It aims to bring about:

  • Dynamic teaching-learning process,
  • Vibrant and problem-solving research culture,
  • Efficient and innovative administrative service provision,
  • Ethics and good governance, and
  • Conducive intellectual atmosphere in the university

In setting the above priority areas, the Center takes into consideration the major directions and priorities identified by the Higher Education Proclamation of 2002 E.C. (2009 G. C.), the university’s vision to become a premier research university by 2017 E.C.(2025 G.C.), and the university’s five year strategic plan. In addition, demand-driven trainings requested by the academic and administrative staff, as well as graduate and undergraduate students are also delivered. Areas the Center identifies as relevant to enhance the multi-dimensional engagements of the academic community and the support staff are also used to inform the Center’s capacity building strategies.

The long-term goals of the Center are:

  • Helping create and sustain institutional culture, values, and leadership practices capable of supporting passionate and innovative academic and research engagements;
  •  Working towards the continuous improvement of the teaching-learning process, research activities, service provision, and general awareness in various areas pertaining to the aforementioned priorities; and
  • Putting into place an institutional practice that assists new academic and administrative staff members in their adaption to their new roles and working environment.

The Center undertakes the following specific activities on an annual basis to realize the above goals:

  • Opening annual and bi-annual forums on cross-cutting issues that have significance to the kinds of institutional culture that should be established in the long-term. These issues include: gender and education, critical intellectual engagements and sustainability of efforts, research culture, service-oriented academic and administrative practices, and focus on student-affairs;
  • Providing short-term trainings geared towards improving the research capacity of academic and administrative staff by putting special emphasis on:

o   Introducing less common research designs and methods,

o   Arranging trainings on the use of research-related software,

o   Arranging workshops on academic writing skills,

o   Encouraging and facilitating the meaningful use of available studies, and

o   Working towards the establishment of the culture of institutional research

  • Arranging short-term trainings and forums for exchange of ideas to improve the teaching and mentoring skills of the academic staff by giving specific attention to:

o   Active-learning models,

o   Effective mentoring of graduate students,

o   Enrichment and improvisation curricula to achieve depth and permanence in learning

o   Engagement in reflective practice, and

o   Utilizing valid and informative classroom assessment practices

  • Working with programs and faculties to improve faculty members’ awareness of and access to:

o   Updated academic and technological resources in their respective fields,

o   National and international professional organizations and venues for publications,

o   Resources and ideas developed among themselves, and

o   Wellness trainings.

  • And, arranging various short trainings for the administrative staff including, but not limited to,:

o   Leadership and management models,

o   Basic computer skills,

o   Office administration and record management, and

o   Customer services.

To achieve the above goals, the Center works in collaboration with experienced staff of the university, as well as outside professional organizations, academic institutions, consultants, and individual local and expatriate professionals.