The recently inaugurated mini STEM Centre at Main Campus-based Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering will be made full-fledged and a yearlong program, the process in this regard will begin at the earliest. Though, the span of collaboration with STEM Power is 2 years but the required legwork has to start right now, emphasized Community Service Directorate Director, Dr Teklu Wegayehu.
Expatiating upon it, he said, we will install necessary infrastructure like having separate office, additional laboratories and manpower. So far, the project was led by Community Service Directorate Director but hereafter it may have its own directorate that will be either headed by a coordinator or director with team of professional as the final touches for its administrative structure is underway. Presently, a focal person will oversee this program; till date it was a summer outreach initiative but soon it will be a yearlong event.
Having visited STEM Power’s hub at Debrezeit Foka, Dr Teklu said, STEM Power has well-organized six laboratories in natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, language, etc. while we are just focusing on two thematic areas i.e. electronic and simulation. As this centre gets scaled up, we will be working on seven thematic areas on the line of Bahir Dar University that has developed good infrastructure.
He informed that AMU like to contextualize this endeavor to get desired results because focusing on available resources will give us advantage of location. Enset is principal food stuff, fruits and vegetables are in abundance here, if we add value to these resources by processing and bolstering its value chain management will yield better results and students will think from that standpoint and innovate.
On scaling up plan, he adds, till date, we were using AMU laboratories, now this centre has two electronic and simulation laboratories which soon will be equipped with advanced instruments for which over ETB 1 million has already been spent; and the move is also afoot to own mobile laboratories and laboratories in robotics, optics, etc. The importing process for the necessary equipments for proposed laboratories can be done through STEM Power that will help us to avoid bureaucratic hassle that causes undue delay.
He further apprised that the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) has made establishment of STEM Centres across Ethiopia as one of the most important components in 10-Year Strategic Plan and has also made adequate budgetary provision for the same. Therefore, this being our ambitious event, university has to invest robustly, he opined.
For 2 years, he informed STEM Power will cover operational budget while Community Service Directorate will contribute what is required. This initiative is belonged to MoSHE where Ethiopian government is committed to evolve conducive environment where children can develop their intellect and give wings to their creativity. At the outset, he said, promotional works in this regard will be carried out in town, different schools and around the catchment areas among surrounding community.
Our prime focus is to work on talented students so we will follow selection guidelines stipulated by STEM Power, different sectors will also play key role in it. He agreed that there will be challenges but statutory guidelines will resolve the issue. Initially, candidates’ impressive academic performance matters a lot, their creative ideas and other issues will decide whether they are deserving one or not, he averred.
On trainers, he said, AMU plans to recruit staff devoted for this centre even AMU staff with unique ideas can share with STEM students. And being 1st generation Research University, AMU has to put in extra efforts in developing science as our culture that will inculcate scientific temperament among children so that they can experiment with their curiosity, creative ideas and inner drive that further can be molded into an innovation. On purchase of equipments, he said, we encounter undue delay due to bureaucratic tangle involved in purchase and procurement process, he signed off.
(Communication Affairs Directorate)