Jimma University

**Jimma University** (**JU**) be public research university wey dey locate insyd Jimma, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Dem recognize am as de leading national university, as dem rank am first by de Federal Ministry of Education for four successive years (2009–2012). De establishment of Jimma University dey date back to 1952 wen na dem found Jimma college of Agriculture. De university get ein current name insyd December 1999 dey follow de amalgamation of Jimma College of Agriculture (dem found am insyd 1952) den Jimma Institute of Health Sciences (dem found am insyd 1983).

## Overview

De university dey locate insyd de city of Jimma, situate around 352 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa. Ein grounds dey cover sam 167 hectares. JU be Ethiopia ein first innovative community-oriented educational institution of higher learning, plus teaching centers for healthcare students insyd Jimma, Omo Nada, Shebe, Agaro, den Asendabo. JU be pioneer insyd Public health training. E get academic den scientific collaboration plus numerous national den international partners. JU sanso dey publish de biannual *Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences*, wey dem launch de *Jimma University Journal of Law* insyd October 2007.

## Academics

Jimma University be one of de largest den most comprehensive public research universities insyd Africa. De university get more dan 4,000 faculty den staff members. E sanso get twelve research facilities, modern hospital, community school, community radio station (FM 102.0), ICT center, libraries, den revenue-generating enterprises. De university dey operate for four campuses top wey e dey insyd de phase of establishing ein fifth campus for Agaro. Currently, de university dey educate more dan 43,000 students insyd 56 undergraduate den 103 postgraduate programs for regular, summer, den distance education insyd plus more enrollments insyd de years to cam.

De university get chaw national den international linkages den collaborations insyd de areas of research, education, den community service. Ein innovative educational philosophy, staff commitment den motivation, den availability of better research facilities help de university attract both national den international partners.

### Faculties, Institutes den Schools
De university dey consist of de academic units wey dey follow:

## Initiatives

Jimma University be highly committed make e dey pioneer concepts, as dem reflect insyd ein motto, na dem initially found de university base for de concept of Community-Based Education (CBE). Thru out ein history, de university be committed to dis scheme, wey almost all of de academic curriculum dey base for CBE programs. Jimma University be de first university insyd Africa wey establish exclusive office under de Presido ein office make e supervise all innovative programs across de university.

### Jimma University College of Public Health and Medical Sciences
Dem fi trace back de establishment of de College of Health Sciences of Jimma University (JU) to 1983 plus de birth of de then Jimma Institute of Health Sciences (JIHS). Dem dey mark de very beginning of de establishment of JIHS as continuation of de Ras Desta Damtew Health Assistant Training School dem establish insyd 1967 by de Ethio-Netherlands Health Project insyd de premises of Jimma Hospital. For dis foundation top, dem establish de School of Nursing insyd 1983. Subsequently, de School of Medicine as well as de School of Pharmacy emerge insyd 1985; de School of Medical Laboratory Technology den de School of Environmental Health launch insyd 1987 den 1988, respectively.

Jimma University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) be one of de oldest public hospitals insyd de country. Na dem establish am insyd 1922. Geographically, e dey locate insyd Jimma City 352 km southwest of de capital Addis Ababa. Na e be governed under de Ethiopian government by de name of “Ras Desta Damtew Hospital” den later “Jimma Hospital" during Dergue regime den currently Jimma University Specialized Teaching Hospital.

Though old for ein age, e no make remarkable physical facility improvements for years.
However, for later times insyd, e cam turn evident dat na dem construct sam side-wing buildings by different stakeholders for different times make e respond to de ever-growing pressure of service demand den clinical teaching needs dem derive from de public den Jimma University respectively. Especially, after de transfer of ein ownership to Jimma University, de university make relentless efforts insyd extensive renovation den expansion work make e make de hospital conducive for service, teaching, den research.

Cognizant of de fast-growing service den teaching role of de hospital, de federal government consider de construction of fresh den level- best 600 bedded hospital wich go be functional as of September  2015.

### Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, as national role model for research-oriented departments, na dem establish am plus start-up budget of US$10 million. Dis be de first comprehensive department of materials science insyd Ethiopia, wich dey offer all MSE programs. De main theme of de department research be nano-materials under de supervision of Professor Ali Eftekhari, Presido of de American Nano Society.

## Notable alumni

* Gebisa Ejeta - 2009 World Food Prize winner (dem consider am de Nobel prize of Agriculture)
* Lia Tadesse - Ethiopia Minister of Health
* Tefera Belachew - Renown nutrition professor

## References