26th Annual Research,Community Services and Technology Transfer Conference

Abstract

Commitment to community service is a well rooted culture at University of Gondar (UoG). Initially established to respond to malaria outbreak in Demebya and associated health problems, University of Gondar has always put service to community and solving problems at the center of its endeavors. This is reflected in the university’s motto of “Committed to Serve the Country”. The commitment to this motto has continued to be reflected particularly by increasing trends in societal problem solving research outputs and provision of community intervention projects, making the university the leading institution in serving the nation with commitment and dedication. The current senate legislation of UOG requires all academic staff to spend 15 percent of their working hours on community services. Indeed, community services engagement is an integral part of academic staff performance appraisal and promotion. Until August, 2014 community service activities were coordinated through a community service liaison office. However, as the volume of community service increased in the last few years, coordinating the community service of staffs, students and faculty required a consolidated structure and additional manpower. Thus, in August 2014, the university established the community service directorate and coordination offices in each college and faculty/institute and school under it. The year 2008 was not different from this trend. This tradition has continued and the services to community has expended tremendously. The budget for community services exceeded 6 million birr from regular budget and more than 42 million birr from donors and partner organizations. Yet, the experience of 2008 E.C budget community service engagement of UOG was also unique, at least for at least two main reasons. First, the process of identifying projects for funding by UOG was rigorous and involved as series of defenses and evaluations. This has resulted selections of well designed projects and with impact project. Among the 78 projects submitted for funding, 38 projects were implemented. There are also 32 ongoing community service projects/programs financed by partner organizations. Second, in line with the University’s transformation agenda from community service to community engagement, both the number and role of community organizations and government offices in designing and implementing projects has increased. As would be expected, the range of problems the projects aimed to addressed are very diverse. But the consecutive consultative meetings with community members and representatives ensured that the projects were need based and implemented with utmost participation of the community. The engagement modalities were very diverse ranging from participation in consultative meetings and assessments to identify community needs and prioritize them , to joint planning of projects and in kind contributions and financial contributions to implement projects. This Community Service Booklet presents an overview of the major community service projects implemented in 2008 Ethiopian budget year. Although a very brief summary of the vast community service activities of University of Gondar, readers can draw important lessons and inspirations form the reports included in this booklet.