Mekelle University

Mekelle University
መቐለ ዩኒቨርስቲ
Type	Public university
Established	1991
President	Dr. Fana Hagos Berhane
Academic staff	2,103
Students	31,733 (2018)
Undergraduates	90+
Postgraduates	70+
Location	Mekelle, Tigray Region, Ethiopia; 13°28′48″N 39°29′06″E / 13.48000°N 39.48500°E
Language	English
Website	www.mu.edu.et
	Location in Ethiopia

Mekelle University (Tigrinya: መቐለ ዩኒቨርሲቲ) is a higher education and training public institution located in Mekelle, Tigray Region, Ethiopia, 783 kilometers north of Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. Mekelle University is one of the largest public universities in Ethiopia. It has seven colleges, eleven institutes, and more than 90 undergraduate and 70 postgraduate programs.^[4] The student intake capacity of Mekelle University has reached 31,000 or 10% of Mekelle's population.

History

The Arid Zone Agricultural College was established at the University of Asmara but was then moved to Agarfa in southern Ethiopia in 1990. In 1993, the Arid Zone Agricultural College was moved to Mekelle and started with 42 students in 3 degree programs. After two years, the Faculty of Science and Technology was established at the same campus and, together, these two faculties were then combined into Mekelle University College. Also, the Faculty of Law started its operation by accepting diploma students through a continuing education program.

In May 2000, the Government of Ethiopia (Council of Ministers, Regulations No. 61/1999 of Article 3) formalized Mekelle University as an autonomous higher education institution. Mitiku Haile became the first president.^[4]

The university has been closed in 2021 and 2022 due to the civil war.

Academics

Colleges

College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources Management
College of Natural and Computational Sciences
College of Law and Governance
College of Social Sciences and Languages
College of Business and Economics
College of Health Sciences and Ayder Referral Hospital
College of Veterinary Science

Institutes

Ethiopian Institute of Technology - Mekelle (EiT-M)
Institute of Mind-set Education
Institute of Paleo-Environment and Heritage Conservation
Institute of Geo-Information and Earth Observation
Institute of Environment, Gender, and Development Studies
Institute of Water and Environment
Institute of Climate and Society
Institute of Pedagogical Sciences
Institute of Energy (IoE)
Mekelle Institute of Technology (MIT-MU)
Sports Science Academy and Mekelle Stadium (under construction)
Ethiopian mechanical engineering society (under construction)
Institute of Mountain Research and Development (under construction)

Development of the main campus

A village existed at the escarpment's edge overlooking Mekelle. On a nearby hill, the Iyesus church was established. The villagers fetched their water from the May Anishti spring underneath. In 1895, a fort was established on the small hill overlooking the campus, and the place served as a military stronghold, that was conquered by the Italian army in 1935. In 1938, there was a shop-restaurant, a post, a telephone and telegraph office, an Italian military post and a military cemetery.^[5] In 1938, the village of Inda Iyesus counted approximately 350 inhabitants (including 45 Italians).^[5] After the Italian defeat in 1941, the Ethiopian army took over the place, which expanded it into a large military camp. After the defeat of the Derg army in 1989, the place was used for a few years by the TPLF army after which it was transferred to the Ministry of Education for the establishment of the "Arid Zone College" that would gradually grow into Mekelle University. Popular names of the campus are taken from this history: Arid Campus and Inda Iyesus Campus.

Reputation and rankings

Mekelle University was ranked 3rd among the Ethiopian universities and 1588th in the world by Center for World University Rankings for the 2019-2020 period.^[6]

Year	National rank	World rank	Research performance rank	Overall score	Reference
2019-2020	3	1588	1531	67.4	^[6]
2020-2021	3	1863	1782	66.3	^[7]
2021-2022	3	1870	11792	66.2	^[8]
2022-2023	3	1783	1716	66.5	^[9]

Parks

Mekelle University's main campus hosts several parks:

Momona Park, called after a large momona tree (Faidherbia albida) under which the first lectures were organized in the academic year 1993-1994
Belgium Park, in reference to the longstanding cooperation with the Belgian academic institutions (starting 1994)
The large May Anishti forest on the slope between campus and the city.

Presidents

SN	Year	Name	Profession	Note
1st	2000-2010	Mitiku Haile (PhD)	Professor of Soil Science and Sustainable Land Management	^[10]
2nd	2010-2013	Joachim Herzig (PhD)
3rd	2013-2020	Kindeya Gebrehiwot (PhD)	Professor of Forestry	^[11]
4th	2020-2021	Fetien Abay (PhD)	Professor of crop sciences	^[12]
5th	2021-to date	Fana Hagos Birhane (PhD)		^[1]

Notable people

Samuel Urkato, Minister of Science and Higher Education.^[13]

References

^ ^a ^b "News: Fana Hagos, former President of Tigray Supreme Court appointed as President of Mekelle University". Addis Standard. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
^ "Dr. Fana Becomes President of Mekelle University". Ethiopian Monitor. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
^ "Mekelle University : Mekelle, Ethiopia". National Educational Assessment and Examination Agency (NEAEA)(Ethiopia). Retrieved May 18, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "General Information As of January 1, 2018". Mekelle University. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
^ ^a ^b Consociazione turistica Italiana. Guida dell'Africa orientale Italiana. Milano. p. 301.
^ ^a ^b "Mekelle University Ranking 2019-2020 - Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)". CWUR. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^ "Mekelle University Ranking 2020-21 - Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)". CWUR. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^ "Mekelle University 2021-2022 Ranking". CWUR. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^ "Mekelle University Ranking 2022-2023". CWUR. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^ "History of the Mekelle University (MU) - KU Leuven research (1985-2017)". KU Leuven. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
^ Mekelle University Board Approves Full Professorship Promotion of Dr. Kindeya Gebrehiwot and Dr. Gidey Yirga EthioGRI, 2/8/2017, Sandra Turner
^ "AWARD Fellow becomes first female University Acting President in Ethiopia". Award Fellowships. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
^ "H.E. Dr Samuel Urkato". Aogeac.com. Retrieved 8 December 2020.

External links

[fana-1] "News: Fana Hagos, former President of Tigray Supreme Court appointed as President of Mekelle University". Addis Standard. Retrieved May 18, 2023.

[fana2-2] "Dr. Fana Becomes President of Mekelle University". Ethiopian Monitor. Retrieved May 18, 2023.

[MU-3] "Mekelle University : Mekelle, Ethiopia". National Educational Assessment and Examination Agency (NEAEA)(Ethiopia). Retrieved May 18, 2023.

[:0-4] "General Information As of January 1, 2018". Mekelle University. Retrieved 6 October 2018.

[guida-5] Consociazione turistica Italiana. Guida dell'Africa orientale Italiana. Milano. p. 301.

[Rank-6] "Mekelle University Ranking 2019-2020 - Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)". CWUR. Retrieved May 17, 2023.

[7] "Mekelle University Ranking 2020-21 - Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)". CWUR. Retrieved May 17, 2023.

[8] "Mekelle University 2021-2022 Ranking". CWUR. Retrieved May 17, 2023.

[9] "Mekelle University Ranking 2022-2023". CWUR. Retrieved May 17, 2023.

[Mitiku-10] "History of the Mekelle University (MU) - KU Leuven research (1985-2017)". KU Leuven. Retrieved May 18, 2023.

[11] Mekelle University Board Approves Full Professorship Promotion of Dr. Kindeya Gebrehiwot and Dr. Gidey Yirga EthioGRI, 2/8/2017, Sandra Turner

[Fetien-12] "AWARD Fellow becomes first female University Acting President in Ethiopia". Award Fellowships. Retrieved May 18, 2023.

[:02-13] "H.E. Dr Samuel Urkato". Aogeac.com. Retrieved 8 December 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

v t e Association of African Universities
Algeria	Algiers 1 University Constantine 1 University Oran 1 University University of Ouargla University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene
Angola	Agostinho Neto University
Benin	University of Abomey-Calavi
Botswana	Botho University Botswana Accountancy College Botswana International University of Science and Technology Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Botswana
Burkina Faso	Nazi Boni University University of Ouagadougou
Burundi	University of Burundi
Cameroon	University of Bamenda University of Buea University of Douala University of Dschang University of Maroua University of Ngaoundéré University of Yaoundé I
Cape Verde	Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde
Central African Republic	EUCLID University of Bangui
Chad	University of N'Djamena
Republic of the Congo	Marien Ngouabi University
Cote d'Ivoire	International University of Grand-Bassam Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Catholic University of Bukavu University of Kinshasa University of Kisangani University of Lubumbashi
Egypt	Ain Shams University Al-Azhar University Alexandria Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology Alexandria University Benha University Cairo University Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology Egyptian e-Learning University Helwan University Mansoura University Menoufia University Minya University Misr University for Science and Technology October 6 University Pharos University in Alexandria South Valley University Suez Canal University Tanta University The American University in Cairo The British University in Egypt University of Sadat City Zagazig University
Eritrea	University of Asmara
Eswatini	University of Eswatini
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa Science and Technology University Addis Ababa University Ethiopian Civil Service University Haramaya University Hawassa University Jimma University Mekelle University St. Mary's University Wollega University
Gabon	Omar Bongo University
Ghana	Accra Institute of Technology Accra Technical University African University College of Communications All Nations University Ashesi University Bluecrest University College Central University George Grant University of Mines and Technology Ghana Institute of Languages Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration Koforidua Technical University Kumasi Technical University Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Methodist University College Ghana Pentecost University Presbyterian University College Radford University College Regent University College of Science and Technology Regional Maritime University University for Development Studies University of Cape Coast University of Education, Winneba University of Energy and Natural Resources University of Ghana University of Health and Allied Sciences University of Professional Studies University of Media, Arts and Communication Valley View University Wisconsin International University College Zenith University College
Kenya	African Virtual University Catholic University of Eastern Africa Daystar University Dedan Kimathi University of Technology Egerton University International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Kenyatta University Maseno University Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Moi University Mount Kenya University Multimedia University of Kenya South Eastern Kenya University Strathmore University Umma University University of Eldoret University of Nairobi
Lesotho	National University of Lesotho
Liberia	Cuttington University Stella Maris Polytechnic University United Methodist University
Libya	Al Asmarya University for Islamic Sciences Al Zawiya University Misurata University Sabha University University of Benghazi University of Tripoli
Madagascar	University of Antananarivo University of Toamasina University of Toliara
Malawi	Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Malawi University of Science and Technology UNICAF University of Malawi
Mali	University of Bamako
Mauritania	University of Nouakchott Al Aasriya
Mauritius	Open University of Mauritius University of Mauritius University of Technology, Mauritius
Morocco	Mohammed First University Mohammed V University University of al-Qarawiyyin
Mozambique	Catholic University of Mozambique Eduardo Mondlane University Maputo University
Namibia	International University of Management Namibia University of Science and Technology University of Namibia
Niger	Abdou Moumouni University Higher Institute of Mining, Industry and Geology Maryam Abacha American University Niger
Nigeria	Abia State University Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Adamawa State University Ahmadu Bello University Al-Hikmah University Babcock University Bayero University Bells University of Technology Bowen University Crawford University Delta State University, Abraka Ebonyi State University Federal University of Technology, Minna Federal University of Technology, Owerri Federal University of Technology, Yola Gombe State University Kogi State University Kwara State University Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Michael Okpara University of Agriculture National Open University of Nigeria Niger Delta University Nnamdi Azikiwe University Osun State University Pan-Atlantic University Redeemer's University Rivers State University University of Abuja University of Africa University of Agriculture, Abeokuta University of Agriculture, Makurdi University of Benin University of Calabar University of Ibadan University of Ilorin University of Lagos University of Port Harcourt University of Uyo Usman Dan Fodio University
Rwanda	Université Nationale du Rwanda
Sierra Leone	Njala University University of Sierra Leone
Somalia	Benadir University East Africa University Puntland State University
South Africa	Cape Peninsula University of Technology Central University of Technology Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University North-West University Rhodes University University of Cape Town University of Fort Hare University of Johannesburg University of KwaZulu-Natal University of the Free State University of Limpopo University of Pretoria University of South Africa University of Stellenbosch University of the Western Cape University of the Witwatersrand University of Venda University of Zululand Walter Sisulu University
South Sudan	University of Juba
Sudan	El Imam El Mahdi University Omdurman Ahlia University Red Sea University University of Science and Technology
Tanzania	Ardhi University Muslim University of Morogoro Mzumbe University St. Augustine University of Tanzania The Open University of Tanzania University of Dar es Salaam Zanzibar University
The Gambia	University of the Gambia
Togo	Université de Lomé
Uganda	Busitema University Uganda Christian University Uganda Management Institute Uganda Martyrs University
Zambia	Cavendish University Copperbelt University Mulungushi University University of Zambia Zambian Open University
Zimbabwe	Africa University Bindura University of Science Education Chinhoyi University of Technology Great Zimbabwe University Harare Institute of Technology Lupane State University Midlands State University National University of Science and Technology University of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Open University