Background
Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension is one of the first three founding departments of the former Faculty of Agriculture (now College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences) in University of Gondar and it was established in 2010/11 academic year (2003 E.C.). The department was established having four academic staffs and 51 undergraduate students in one program (B.Sc degree in Rural Development and Agricultural Extension). The major focus area of the department is to facilitate rural centered, gender sensitive and ecologically sound agricultural and rural development endeavors by producing knowledgeable, skilled and competent graduates, and also conducting research and rendering community services. Currently, it has one undergraduate (RDAE) and four graduate (M.Sc. in Rural Transformation and Innovation System Management, MSc in Agricultural Extension and Communication,M.Sc. in Rural Livelihood and Food Security and PhD in Rural Development and Food Security ) programs.
The department has 22 academic, 1 TA and 2 administrative staff members to facilitate the teaching learning, research and community service activities. From 22 academic staff members, 6 are on their study leave attending different level postgraduate programs under multidisciplinary fields of studies. Since its establishment in the University of Gondar, different research and community service works have been conducted by the department staff members. In this regard, the department has more than 23 completed research projects implemented in different research areas and more than 40 published research projects in different reputable journals.
The academic staff members of the department are also rendering different societal centered community services and disseminating new technologies. The department is also working together with different GOs, and NGOs, with those who have shared and common responsibilities and objectives to benefit the rural community.
Along with producing competent professionals, the Department is aimed to meet the following objectives:
To produce qualified and competent graduates in the field of Rural Development and Agricultural;Extension; and Rural Transformation and Innovation System Management with the required skills, knowledge and attitudes
- –To facilitate, promote and disseminate appropriate agricultural technologies
- –To give community-based services in areas of rural livelihoods, food security, and welfare of the rural community
- –To facilitate pro-poor, gender-sensitive and ecologically sound agricultural and rural development.
Core Values of RDAE
Our core values are:
Quality in all: strong commitment to high standards in all aspects of its educational activities, research, community engagements, and support services, and uses feedback from its participants and supporters to enhance its programs competency in an efficient way.
Customer first: We put the good of customers first and seek to develop responsible citizens committed to the common good.
Solidarity and Teamwork: Enhancing unity and forming cohesive teams determines our future success. Thus, we value solidarity and encourage team work in our process.
Sustainability: Promotes diversity in its policies and practices to prepare its learners to live and work successfully in an increasingly diverse society.
Invention and Innovation: Creativity and innovation as hallmark of our efforts, we are in a higher education industry where creativity and adaption to its changing environment and responds to the needs of the community.
Care for Staff: Our success is based on attracting, hiring, developing and retaining best employees.
Faithful to ethics: we comply to legal, social and professional ethics and norms which is crucial for our development; Practices of accountability, transparency, fairness, honesty, and objectivity in dealing with its constituencies.