Mekelle University

**Mekelle University** (Tigrinya: መቐለ ዩኒቨርሲቲ) be higher education den training public institution wey dey locate insyd Mekelle, Tigray Region, Ethiopia, 783 kilometers north of Ethiopia ein capital, Addis Ababa. Mekelle University be one of de largest public universities insyd Ethiopia. E get seven colleges, eight institutes, den more dan 90 undergraduate den 70 postgraduate programs. De student intake capacity of Mekelle University reach 31,000 anaa 10% of Mekelle ein population.

## History
Na dem establish de Arid Zone Agricultural College for de University of Asmara buh na dem then move am to Agarfa insyd southern Ethiopia for 1990 insyd. Insyd 1993, na dem move de Arid Zone Agricultural College to Mekelle wey dem start plus 42 students insyd 3 degree programs. After two years, na dem establish de Faculty of Science den Technology for de same campus den, togeda, dem combine dese two faculties into Mekelle University College. De Faculty of Law sanso start ein operation by e dey accept diploma students thru make e dey continue education program.

Insyd May 2000, de Government of Ethiopia (Council of Ministers, Regulations No. 61/1999 of Article 3) formalize Mekelle University as autonomous higher education institution. Mitiku Haile cam turn de first presido.

De university close insyd 2021 den 2022 due to de civil war.

## Academics

### Colleges

* College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources Management
* College of Natural and Computational Sciences
* College of Law and Governance
* College of Social Sciences and Languages
* College of Business and Economics
* College of Health Sciences and Ayder Referral Hospital
* College of Veterinary Science

### Institutes

* Ethiopian Institute of Technology - Mekelle (EiT-M)
* Institute of Paleo-Environment and Heritage Conservation
* Institute of Geo-Information and Earth Observation
* Institute of Environment, Gender, and Development Studies
* Institute of Water and Environment
* Institute of Climate and Society
* Institute of Pedagogical Sciences
* Institute of Energy (IoE)
* Mekelle Institute of Technology (MIT-MU)
* Sports Science Academy and Mekelle Stadium (under construction)
* Ethiopian mechanical engineering society (under construction)
* Institute of Mountain Research and Development (under construction)

## Development of de main campus

Village exist for de escarpment ein edge wey dey overlook Mekelle. For nearby hill, na dem establish de Iyesus church. De villagers fetch dema water from de *May Anishti* spring underneath. Insyd 1895, dem establish fort for de small hill wey dey overlook de campus, den de place serve as military stronghold, wey na dem conquer am by de Italian army insyd 1935. 
Insyd 1938, na der be shop-restaurant, post, telephone den telegraph office, Italian military post den military cemetery. Insyd 1938, de village of Inda Iyesus dem count approximately 350 inhabitants (wey dey include 45 Italians). After de Italian defeat insys 1941, de Ethiopian army take over de place, wich na dem expand am into arge military camp. After de defeat of de Derg army insys 1989, na dem use de place for few years by de TPLF army after wich na dem transfer am to de Ministry of Education for de establishment of de "Arid Zone College" wey go gradually grow into Mekelle University.
Dem take popular names of de campus from dis history: *Arid Campus* den *Inda Iyesus Campus*.

## Reputation den rankings

Na dem rank Mekelle University 3rd among de Ethiopian universities den 1588th insyd de world by Center for World University Rankings for de 2019-2020 period.

## Parks

Mekelle University ein main campus dey host several parks:

* Momona Park, dem bell am after large *momona* tree (*Faidherbia albida*) under wich na dem organize de first lectures insyd de academic year 1993-1994
* Belgium Park, for reference to de longstanding cooperation plus de Belgian academic institutions (dey start 1994)
* De large *May Anishti* forest for de slope between campus den de city.

## Presidos

## Notable people

* Samuel Urkato, Minister of Science den Higher Education.

## References