Two 5th National Conferences Held Successfully
Research is used to discover new knowledge and test existing knowledge. Research is important because without it we would not figure how anything works or how anything is made .There would be no advances in science and technology or anything else. The Ethiopian Civil Service University was driven by these facts and considered research as one of its core businesses and is working accordingly. The University has so far conducted four conferences through which different research papers were presented and later published in its two journals and proceedings. The researches were disseminated to the concerned bodies with high concern on their contribution to policy and action at national and regional levels.
As was done previously,the Ethiopian Civil Service University conducted the two 5th National Conferences from July 5-6 and from July 12-13 2012,on "Urban Development and Related Issues in Ethiopia: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Development in Ethiopia " and "Federalism and Civil Service in Ethiopia”, respectively.13 papers were presented in the conference that focused on urban areas and 14 papers were presented on the conference that focused on Federalism and Civil Service areas.
Dr.Hailemichael Abera President of Ethiopian Civil Service University in his opening speech of the first conference said that
"Ethiopia is following agricultural led industrialization which is believed to enhance urban rural linkage. Urban areas are needed to connect with rural areas in order to sustain the development in the country. For this purpose, urban development should be supported by relevant researches."
Dr.Hailemichael also said as stated clearly in the research strategies of the country, all research undertakings should be done hand in hand with industries. As small scale industry development is the basis in the effort to scale up in to middle and large scale industrialization, our researches should be done in the way they assist these efforts and register results in poverty eradication and job creation efforts, concludes Dr.Hailemichael.
Dr.Hailemichael finally thanked the Research and Publication Coordination Office and other concerned bodies who in one way or another contributed for the success of the conferences.
Dr Samson Kassahun, Academic Vice President of Ethiopian Civil Service University, inaugurated a book "Cities as Engines of Growth and Transformation in Ethiopia" at the start of the conference on Urban Development. As it was as stated in the inauguration, the book analyses the role of Ethiopian Cities as engines of growth. The book is a collective work of 17 relevant research authors,selected from among those who presented research articles in the 4th National Conference on" The Role of Ethiopian Cities or Urban Centers in Economic Growth and Poverty Alleviation."
Dr. Tesfay Solomon, Director of the Research and Publication Coordination Office in his welcoming speech underscored that Ethiopia has initiated a number of development activities in economic, social, and political arenas at various levels in its effort to realize its vision –becoming a middle income country by the year 2020. Dr. Tesfay expressed the Government’s belief that sustainable urban development, the existence of an efficient and effective civil service as well as a well functioning federal system are the backbones of responsive leadership and with out which sustainable development can not be materialized.
According to Dr. Tesfay, the Ethiopian Civil Service University is mandated, among others, to undertake meaningful and problem solving research that bring new insights in the civil service, and federal system and urban development and management areas, and disseminate findings to a wide variety of stakeholders and readers. The participants and researchers of the two conferences are drawn from pertinent federal and regional government offices and higher education institutions.
Dr.Tesfay also highlighted his office’s engagement in encouraging problem solving research through research grant competition for staff of the University, publishing two annual journals, Masters Thesis and Discussion Papers, in addition to organizing two national conferences every year.