A. Introduction
The Faculty of Technology, in the last three and half decades of its exis-tence, has gone through significant tr.msformation and growth in terms of its curricula, physical facilities, composition and quality of its teaching staff and research capabilities. The under-graduate instructions within its various departments have undergone a series of changes and development, both in tenns of structure and content, so as to be able to meet the ever-increasing trained manpower needs of the country.
The central concern of the Faculty, in the development of its teaching acti-vities, has always been the training of engineers who will adequately be prepared to take up engineering assignments in the various sectors of the national economy with the minimum amount of apprenticeship time for practical work. The various curricula of the Faculty are thus designed in such a way as to provide instructions in the fundamental principles and broad aspects of the different disciplines of engineering supported by courses in laboratory exercises that emphasize the practical
aspects of the profession. The broad nature of the instructions at the under-araduate level of the Faculty reflects the concrete realities that prevail in the technical back-ground of the incoming students and the nature of engineering assignments the students undertake after graduation. It should, however. be added that designing the under-graduate curricula to be broad has in no way compromised the quality of education in specific specialized fields and the Faculty has maintained an interna-tional standard in all the fields of specialization it is currently offering.
In recognition of its high standard the African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI) has selected the Faculty to be the centre of excellence in the fields of civil engineering and electrical engineering. The Faculty's selection as the centre of exceUence in these areas makes it responsible fol' the post-graduate training and research for Africa in fields of structural engineering, geotechnical engineering and communication engineering.
Engineering training is currently being given iin fields of architecture and town planning, civil engineering. chemical engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, all leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. There is also a three-year diploma-level training in building technology. As these fields of study indicate. the Faculty's under-graduate programme has focused on the traditional dis-ciplines reflecting the developmental needs of the country.
[n the fields of architecture and civil engineering, the Faculty's graduates are successfully carrying out assignments in design and construction of building works, construction of roads and watelWorks. It is gratifying to note that the feed-backs the Faculty is obtaining from various employing organiutions have been appreciative of the quality of the work being undertaken by its graduates and a further testimony to the strength of the Faculty's teaching programme in these fields and the soundness of the basic philosophy of training adopted by the Faculty.
Because of the nature and level of development of the mechanical and elec-trical industries in Ethiopia, the Faculty's graduates in these two fields of specializa·
tion have mainly been concerned with problem of plant operations, selection and maintenance of equipment, rationalization of production and other related matters.
The broad nature of the training programmes in
tlJe5e
areas has afforded the graduate the flexibility and versatility necessary to be engaged in diverse planning and operational uqdertakings in the various sectors of industry.Despite some inevitable constraints, the Faculty's various training pro-grammes have successfully contributed, in a responsive manner, their share in the development of technical personnel that the country n.!eded and needs. However.
we have now reached a point where the challenges in the training of engineers for the fulfiJment of the national economic development plan that is laying the founda-tions for the socialist construction has become more demanding.
The ten-year perspective plan envisages rapid industrial expansion and development. The successful execution of the planned industrial expansion would certainly require large numbers of skilled technical personnel for manpower in diverse specialized fields and at various levels of qualification. While it will not entirely be possible to train all the necessary manpower in local institutions at this time, it becomes imperative to start or initiate training programmes locally for engineers and other technical personnel in some selected and vital areas of specialization. It is believed that the task of providing such programmes of study for the realization of these objectives will, in the immediate future. mainly fall on the Faculty of Technology as the sole institution of higher technical education that has the experience and necessary basic infrastructure on which future developments can be based.
The Faculty of Technology is now prepared to take up this challenge and work towards the rapid realization of the training objectives that will be set by the Party and the Government. To meet this enonnous challenge, the Faculty will have
to redefine its goals and objectives in both teaching and research.
B. Objectives of the Faculty of Technology
As mentioned above, the general objective of the Faculty of Technology is to train skilled manpower in various fields of specialization and various levels of qualification. Within this general objective. the programmes of study and other acti-vities of the Faculty have to be oriented in such a way as to be responsive to the manpower needs of the country. At this point in the country's development, the requirements of skilled technical manpower have grown both quantitatively and qualitatively. In addition, the number of areas of specialization required have also expanded. It has, therefore, become necessary to widen the scope of the objectives of the Faculty of Technology and organize it in such a manner as to make it capable to shoulder the responsibilities entrusted to it. In the light of the above, the following are proposed as the Faculty's set of objectives. All or most of what follows have always been the objectives of the Faculty o( Technology but their clear articulation and achievements have been hampered due to various constraints in the past. What is now presented is in line with the educational objectives of the ten-year perspective plan in this area of specialization.
1. Objectives of the training programme (a) Under-graduate training
The under-graduate programmes of study will strive to provide broad instructions in both theory and practice in particular areas of engineering. Narrow specialization at the under-graduate level at this time will neither be desirable nor possible. Within this general framework, the Faculty will attempt to accomplish the following:
(a) Strengthen and upgrade the quality .of instructions in both the theoretical and practical spheres. The upgrading and streamlining of the curricula will be a continuous effort that will help in training engineers capable of undertaking assignments in design, construction and operational work that they will encounter in their places of employment. This will also involve the teaching of new techniques and technologies that are constantly being developed. The strengthening of the practical aspects of training will, hopefully, better prepare the graduating engineers to solve, in a more- competent manner, engineering problems that may arise in practice;
(b) Expand the areas of instructions into new fields of specialization by opening new Departments. The opening of new departments of instruction will be based on the expressed manpower needs of the country and would, as much as possible, be initiated as a minor programme of study within one of the existing departments and eventually grow into a full-fledged department.
This approach had been used by the Faculty in the establishment of the Department of Chemical Engineering. The current chemical engineering programme of study has been an outgrowth of a minor study progra,mme within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Organizing and conducting a minor programme of study had enabled the Faculty to gather experiences in conducting such a programme and make the necessary preparations in terms of staff and laboratory facilities for launching a major programme of study in chemical en:gineering.
The experience with the start of the chemical engineering programme of study has convinced the Faculty that other areas of specialization could also be initiated within the Faculty with a minimum investment since there are a significant number of courses and facilities within the existing programmes that would also be approptiate for new programmes.
In line with this approach. the Faculty is currently studying the possibilities of initiating minor programmes of study in the areas of mining engineering.
metallurgy and computer engineering. In the above three fields of study. a minor programme of study in mining engineering has already been drawn up by the Department of Civil Engineering and is being distributed for further review and comment by relevant organizations and individual professionals, after which a workshop will be held before the curriculum is presented for approval to the University Senate.
The development of such new departments of instruction, while providing the skilled manpower needed in these areas of specialization in the immediate future, will provide a strong basis' for the development of other departments and lor institutes for the training of specialists in these particular fields of study.
(c) Training of middle-level technical personnel at the Diploma level.
The effectiveness of engineers in carrying out their duties is mostly limited by the number of middle-level technical personnel that would assist them. In the absence of other institutions that train middle-level technical personnel in the large numbers required, the Faculty can, at least in the short run, continue to train these personnel in a strengthened manner.
The importance of these middle-level technical personnel in the construction industry is an often-emphasized maUer. The Department of Building Technology has, over the past several years, been engaged in the training of such personnel for the construction industry. To make the contributions of its graduates more effective and more relevant. its programme of study will be expanded and strengthened.
especially in the practical aspects of construction technology. In this respect. a strengthened Department of Materials Research and Testing wi!! be able to contribute significantly in the improvement of the training given by the Department of Building Technology.
The Continuing Education Division has also contributed significantly in the training of middle-level technical personnel. It is expected that the activities of this Division will be strengthened further in such a manner that it may be considered as an important aspect of the overall educational objectives of the Faculty.
(d) The organization of regular short training programmes in various fields of specialization for practicing engineers and other technical personnel in various government institutions. Such programmes will provide opportunities for practicing engineers and others to upgrade their knowledge and also introduce them to new advances in theory, practice and technology. In view of the constantly
changing or advancing techniques. the necessity of introducing to practicing engineers the results of these new advances in an orgallized. systematic and goal-specific manner ~ot be overemphasized. In addition. the Faculty would be able to organize progra)Qmes of study. in an ad hoc manner, to train engineers in specified areas of specialization to solve the manpower problems of individual or groups of state organizations.
(b) Post-graduate trainina
The general objective of the post-graduate programmes of study is to prepare high·level manpower in specific areas of specialization who will be equipped with necessary theoretical and practical knOWledge. It is expected that engineers with post-graduate training will provide leadership in design, production organization, construction. research and planning. Within the framework of these general objectives. The graduate programmes in the Faculty of Technology will strive to attain the following specific goals:
(a) Initiate and carry out post-graduate programmes of instruction in areas that are in line with the manpower requirements of the national economy.
These post-graduate programmes will, in addition to providing courses of study that will enhance and deepen the knowledge obtained from the under-graduate training, enable participants (the students) to handle engineering_ problems independently through research. design and development work;
(b) Prepare educators for technical institutes that will be opened to train manpower in various areas of specialty and level categories;
(c) Organize short-tenn courses, workshops and symposia to enable practicing engineers share experiences. report solutions to' particular practical engineering problems and learn new theory and techniques in their areas of specialization;
(d) Stimulate research to be undertaken by both students and Faculty and support the instructional programmes with new research findings.
2. Objectives of research an~ consultancy
The Faculty has staff members who have a demonstrated ability to carry out independent investigations and research in their arE~ of specialization. But research undertakings by the staff members up to now have been limited on account of the fact that most or all senior staff members hav~~ been mainly engaged in
teaching activity due to the shortage of staff. Nevertheless. some staff members have been carrying out research from time to time when opportunities were provided for such activities.
The strengthening of the Faculty through the acquISItion of research facilities and the initiation of graduate studies, it is hoped, will provide an additional impetus for carrying out research in a sustained manner.
The good will and determination of the staff members, although important in itself. alone will not guarantee the development of research within the Faculty.
There must be additional commitment in tenns of facilities and manpower and correct policies that would encourage research.
(a) Research
The main objectives of research that will be carried out within the Faculty will be the following:
(a) Development of local materials and processes that will enhance eogineering applications in the fields of construction and manufacturing;
(b) Adaptation of technology for the solution of the country's problems in specific areas;
(c) Development of raw materials conversion processes in cost-effective manner;
(d) Strengthening the design capacity of the country through the build-up of knowledge and manpower capable of designing for specific needs more economically and efficiently. This will involve, among other things. the development of design manuals and aids suitable to the local conditions and standardization of technical specifications for the selection and adoption of technologies.
(b) Consultancy services
Through consultancy services. the country can utilize the Faculty's specialized manpower and technical facilities to solve some of the practical engineerins problems that may arise. By undertaking consultancy work. the Faculty aims to discharge, in part, its responsibilities to the community and the nation through the provision of services of its staff members. These will be services
rendered to government agencies and departments in the form of technical advice and carrying out feasibility studies. It w.u also be possible, through such services, that Faculty members will be continuously and intimately involved in the solution of the engineering proolems of the country and this will definitely contribute towards making the Faculty's teaching activities more relevant to the needs of the country.
The organization and operational activities of the consultancy services within the Faculty are currently at a rudimentary stage. They are limited to providing testing and measurement services when requested by government agencies and other organizations. Apart from the institutional level cooperation with other organizations, Faculty members have, from time to time, rendered professional services to outside organizations. It is believed that the sporadic consultancy services could be made an integral function of the Faculty and its effectiveness ensured through the setting up of appropriate organizational framework within the Faculty. Towards this end, it is proposed to organize a research and consultancy department within the Faculty of Technology. The function of this Department will in general be to:
(a) Promote and coordinate the research ~lctivities of the Faculty;
(b) Facilitate the conduct of research work by staff members and students of the Faculty;
(c) Actively solicit consultancy work and coordinate the activities of the other Departments in the area;
(d) Oversee the work conducted by the Materials Research and Testing Department;
(e) Seek opportunities (and forums) through which the work of Faculty and its potentials for undertaking consultancy services a.re disseminated and better known.
While the details of the form this department will take will be finalized in the future, it is obvious that it will be subordinate to the research and consultancy policy of the University and will function under the overaH guidance and supervision of the Research and Publications Committee of the Fac\'llty of Technology.
C. Present state and conditions of the Faculty of Technology
The attainment of the above set of objectives would require a certain minimum level in both staffing and physical facilities. It is obvious that the objectives elaborated above will call for additional investment in both physical facilities and manpower of various categories. However, this additional investment can be justified only if the rational use of existing sbllff and facilities can be demonstrated and found to be inadequate for the task at hand. It is therefore e8iential to review !he present conditions of the Faculty in the areas of space, staffing. student population, and equipment and materials. In this section, it is intended to present the current capacities and activities of the Faculty and the prevailing constraints in the attainment of its stated goals.
1. Students
Admission of students to the FaCulty of Technology's degree programmes is the successful completion of the first semester in the freshman programme of the Faculty of Science. Students admitted to the Diploma Programme in Building Techno)ogy are directly assigned by the Commission for Higher Education. The number of students at the beginning of the second semester of the 1988/1989 academic year in the different departments of the Faculty 1S Shown in table 17.
The Faculty's student population is maximum during the second semester of the academic year when the first-year pre-engineering and architecture and town planning students are admitted into the Faculty from the freshm.an programme of the Faculty of Science. The Faculty expects to admit approximately 260 students at the beginning of the second semester of the 1989/1990 ac~demic year. 'The maximum student population. therefore, will be 1,370 students of whom 970 will be in the departments lo('~ted at the northern campus.
Table l&. Regular student enrolment by Department and year (April 1989)
Year
Depanmenl I II
m
IV V TotalA. Degree programme
Architecture and Town Planning 26 22 26 24 26 124
Civil Engineering
-
86 92 56 68 302Electrical Engineering
-
42 41 36 35 154Mechanic,. Engineering
-
40 53 32 33 IS8Pre-Enginecring 264
-
-. -
264Chemical Enaineerine
-
24 .27 IS 31 97B. Diploma programme
Building technology 83 97 88
- -
268Total 373 311 327 163 193 1367
Table 19. Faculty of Technology: Academic staff (April 1988)
Depart Prof ASiDe Lee Asst Grad Total Leav
Prof Lee Asst e
Arch & Town Plan
Ethiopian
-
2 3 2 2 9 5Expatriate
-
2 I 3Expatriate