𝗘𝗖𝗦𝗨 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
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Ethiopian Civil Service University (ECSU) Research Affairs Directorate (RAD) held the 9th National Conference with the theme “Public Sector Transformation and Development” from June 3- 4, 2024 at the newly inaugurated Omo Hall. At the conference ESCU scholars, Researchers and invited Guests from Federal Ministries, Universities, and Addis Ababa City Administration participated.
In his opening speech, Professor Fikre Dessalegn, ECSU President, welcomed the participants of the conference to the momentous academic event of the University and noted that as a successive annual events, the motto of this year conference is “Public Sector Transformation & Development”. He also said that this year’s gathering, links up the broader agenda of transformation and development and addresses it in the context of Economic development, urban governance, and Public service delivery, Peace and Conflict Management, Diplomacy; and also in the context of Environment and Development; and Human Resource and Leadership Competencies.
“ECSU has been actively engaging in research activities for nearly a decade and disseminating its research findings to the end users. Data over the past 9 years indicated that the research productivity in terms of volume of research conducted and the number of publications as articles in journals and proceedings; and also as PhD monographs and other scholarly products are very encouraging. A total of 448 staff grant research topics have been researched, dozens of articles have been published in successive volumes of our journals and proceedings; and also in other local and International journals, and we have records of 109 PhD monographs produced by our alumni. The research productivity is higher when including research outputs by our second degree students. Among these, those published in indexed and journals of wider circulation are obviously a key in enhancing our University’s image and visibility at national and global stages, despite five of our journals are still awaiting accreditation by the Ministry of Education.” Professor Fikre noted.
He also added that in the past five years alone, ECSU has executed 59 relatively bigger research and consultancy projects, with about 400 million-birr funded by public sector organizations in addition to budget allocated from government treasury and the research findings disseminated and recommendations enabled beneficiaries to deeply understand some of the public sector problems and pin point possible solutions to the problems identified. ECSU is now embarking into the road of becoming Graduate and Research University by maintaining its legacy and responsibility of building public sectors’ capacity. Besides, it is gradually evolving as a university of choice by the public servants and employees of private sector, despite the low intake capacity when compared to candidates applying to join our academic programs, Professor Fikre added. Finally he thanked all the researchers for bringing their expertise and innovative ideas to the conference as well as the organizing committee of the conference.
In her keynote address, Professor Netsanet Workneh, Vice president of Research and Partnership of Jimma University said that ECSU has been differentiated as Research University based on its achievements and capacities which has shown through its educational programs, innovative researches, initiatives and capacity building efforts. The university’s commitment for excellence and advancement of public services for the betterment of the society is exemplary, Professor Netsanet added. She also explained that research and innovations are at the heart of the public service transformation and development. The academic staff is more oriented mostly in teaching rather than research undertakings. In this regard, it is expected to make transformations in mindset, create conducive atmosphere to research and innovation to become research intensive university.