Chinese Academy of Governance Delegation visit ECSU
Chinese Academy of Governance delegation led by Mr. Hong Yi, Vice President of the Academy, paid a working visit to Ethiopian Civil Service University on November 20, 2013. The delegation discussed with Management council of ECSU in a variety of issues. Academic Vice President of ECSU, Dr. Samson Kassahun on the occasion expressed ECSU`s readiness to work with Chinese Academy of Governance.
Dr. Samson explained the vision, mission, and values of ECSU. He said the university is mandated to build the capacity of the public service both at regional and federal level through education, training, research and consultancy. He also said that there are eight institutes and two schools /School of Graduate Studies and School of Diplomacy and International relations / which are offering different specialized programmes which are not offered by other public universities in the country. With these institutes and schools, Dr. Samson added, the university is running different programmes ranging from bachelor to doctoral degrees and currently 17 masters, 8 bachelor and 3 doctoral programmes are being offered in the university.
Dr. Samson said, there are 300 academic staff at ECSU. More than 95 % of whom are lecturer and above i.e. Assistant and Associate professors. Dr. Samson also raised concerns of the university,
"since our programmes are specialized, we have some challenges in terms of getting professionals for teaching and to solve these problems we are hiring professionals from Africa, Europe, Asia and North America."
Mr. Hong Yi, Vice President of Chinese Academy of Governance, on his part expressed his happiness to come to the university and to be able to discuss with the university`s leadership. The academy was established in 1994 and it reports to State Council of China. According to Yi the academy focuses on three areas: training for minister and director general level public servants, training for high level public management research fellows and social science research fellows, and providing policy consultancy for ministries and agencies. Mr.Yi also said the academy has 494 faculties, trainers and management staff. "Annually some 50,000 participants attend different trainings and seminars in our academy,” said Mr.Yi.
"Opening up international cooperation is one of the main characteristics of our academy and until now we have direct friendly relationship with 156 institutes from 84 countries and regions and with 17 international and multi national organizations, " said Yi. Mr. Yi. said
“We invite important critical figures to our academy to deliver speeches and I would like to take this opportunity to invite senior high level officials from Ethiopia to give speeches ".
Mr.Yi said, “ We know that your university is the main training institute for training civil servants in your country, we are willing to have exchange and cooperation in the field of civil service training, public management research , and economic and social development. We can think of topics of mutual interest and carry out projects” said Mr.Yi .He also indicated " that there could be mutual visit of high level staff and faculties and research undertaking between the two institutions. " We have the second GDP in the world and yet we are developing nation, so we want to grow together, " stated Mr.Yi. Mr. Yi finally extends invitation to the university`s president and other staff to visit Chinese Academy of Governance.
Fekade Beyene, Director of School of Diplomacy and International Relations on his part said there are similarities between Chinese Academy of Governance and Ethiopian Civil Service University. Ato Fekade said
"As there is Political science and International Relations department in Chinese Academy of Governance and School of Diplomacy and International Relations in our university, it needs to develop MoU and can forge relationship and work together in these areas" ,
Dr. Samson finally thanked Mr. Yi for inviting ECSU staff to their academy and said he will put forward the message to the university president.