ECSU and Ministry of Urban Development and Construction Sign MOU
Ethiopian Civil Service University and Ministry of Urban Development and Construction signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on October 04,2019 at the University`s Senate Hall aimed at creating an Urban Development and Construction Center of Excellence in the Ethiopian Civil service University . The agreement will create opportunity to capacitate the urban sector professionals in Education, Training and Consultancy and conduct research that resolve urban related problems.
In the signing ceremony, Ato Mesfin Assefa, State Minister of Ministry of Urban Development and Engineering said the signing of the MOU would advance the already existing cooperation between ECSU and MoUDC. Ato Mesfin further said the Center of Excellence is believed to be a technical hand of the Ministry in its effort to realize the development of complimentary, prosperous and internationally competitive urban centres, which are centres of development, models of democracy, generate development and deliver efficient services to their inhabitants and ensure their liveability through plan led development. “Given the vast experience of the University in Urban sector in long and short term trainings, consultancy and researches, it would be an opportunity for us to work with the University,”Ato Mesfin said.
Dr. Lema Gudissa, Academic Vice President of Ethiopian Civil service University welcomed the attendees of the signing of MOU to the event which he described as “historic ". Dr Lema said that City`s role in a country`s economic, social and political development is immense and we are committed to developing the capacity of the urban sector so as to contribute the country`s urban development vision. Dr. Lema thanked the Ministry for recognizing the university`s efforts and selected it as center of excellence in Urban development and Construction sector. Dr. Lema finally said, "We take this as an opportunity and aligned it to our vision of becoming a center of excellence in East Africa in public sector capacity building."
Dr. Daniel Lirebo, Dean of College of Urban development and Engineering (CUDE), expressed the college`s commitment to uphold the stipulated ideas in the MOU as the University is experienced in urban development sector. He said since its establishment some 60 years a go by French and Ethiopian Government by the name Ecole Technical Manuciplite, the college has put its footprint in urban development of the country. Dr. Daniel also said, " with eight post graduate and four under graduate programs and committed professors, we will realize the center of excellence in the urban sector".
Ato Birhanu Teshome, Head of Urban Good Governance and Capacity Building Bureau of Ministry of Urban Development and Engineering said that they want the center of excellence to be knowledge storage for urban development. According to Ato Birhanu, the ministry earmarked 40 Million birr every year for capacity building in the 10 pillars of the University.