Higher education standard in Ethiopia

Introduction:
Responsible organ: Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency
(HERQA)
Establishment: Proclamation 350/2003
Amended: proclamation 650/2009
Objective: HERQA is mandated to assure quality education
provision in public universities and private higher
education institutions. Academic Excellence
Establishment: A public institution financed by the federal government shall
be established by regulations of the Council of Ministers.
Rapid expansion: since 1990’s
Enrolment rate: 5.2% --------One reason is quality

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 Status of Institutions
• Any institution may be established as an entity having the status of:
• 1 university;
• 2 university College;
• 3 college;
• 4 institute

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 Focus Areas
1. Vision, Mission and Educational Goals
2. Governance and Management System
3. Infrastructure and Learning Resources
4. Academic and Support Staff
5. Student Admission and Support Services
6. Program Relevance and Curriculum
7. Teaching, Learning and Assessment
8. Student Progression and Graduate Outcomes
9. Research and Outreach Activities
10. Internal Quality Assurance

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1. Vision, Mission and Educational Goals
Be it private or public, higher education institution should be governed by
the rules and regulations of HERQA.
Therefor, the goals, mission and vision of the institution should agree with
HERQA.
2. Governance and Management System
Governing and advisory bodies of a public institution shall consist of:
a) Board b) president;
c) Senate d) managing council;
e) university council f) academic unit council;
g) academic unit managing council h) department assembly;
i) advisory or specialized committees or councils that may be established by
the Board, senate or university council.

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3. Infrastructure and Learning Resources
Each higher education should have the minimal infrastructures for
teaching-learning process.
Such as laboratory, library, manpower, building including other services
Minimum enrollment capacity of 2,000 students
Three academic units larger than departments,
4. Academic and Support Staff
Any institution shall have:
1. academic staff;
2. technical support staff;
3. administrative support staff;
4. professionals in teaching hospitals, as may be appropriate.
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5. Student Admission and Support Services
Admission: In Accordance of Ministry of education
Admissions to undergraduate programmes of any institution from
preparatory schools shall be based on completion of the preparatory
programme and obtaining the necessary pass marks in the Ethiopian
University Entrance Examination (EUEE).
6. Program Relevance and Curriculum
The programs and curriculum should be in agreement with HERQA standard.
1 Bachelor Degree;
2 Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree;
3 Master’s Degree (MA/MSc), or a Medical or other Professional Specialty;
4 Doctorate (PhD) Degree or its equivalent; or
5 any other degree that may be determined by the academic senate.
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7. Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Student centered-Practical
In-class-On-campus
8. Student Progression and Graduate Outcomes

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9. Research and Outreach Activities
The focus of research in any institution shall be primarily on promoting
the relevance and quality of education and on the country's
developmental issues focusing on transfer of technology.
10. Internal Quality Assurance