The Ethiopian Civil Service University started operation in 1995 but was formally established in February, 1996 as an autonomous institution with legal status by the Council of Minister Regulation No. 3/1996. Since establishment, the University has contributed immensely in developing the capacity of the Ethiopian Civil Service University through education and training.
The need for the establishment of the University arose from the acute need for the country’s civil service system with the new form of government structure, namely, the Federal Government System introduced in 1991. In this historical and political shift from a highly centralized unitary government system to a decentralized federal system, and given the country’s existing higher institutions’ intake capacity, the shortage of trained manpower in the country in general and in the emerging regions in particular, was acute. As a result, the duties and responsibilities of self administration by the regional state government and their various agencies were very difficult to handle. To satisfy this urgent need, the University began operations with only two fields of studies: Law and Economics.
The University has been able to make tremendous contribution in capacity building through the provision of short-term courses and specialized undergraduate and postgraduate programs; rendering research and consultancy services; providing library documentation services and facilitating conferences, seminars and workshops. The University employs delivery modalities ranging from resident training and educational programs to the on-the-job, evening and distance education, including Global Development Learning Network.
The University strives to equip civil servants with relevant theoretical and practical skills that will empower them to optimally discharge their responsibilities. This article explains the activities of the different organs of the Ethiopian Civil Service University. It explains the background to establishing the University. Our belief that human resources are the most precious assets of the nation has been shared by the governments and individuals. We appreciate the patronage and support of the government and people of Ethiopia as well as our international collaborators.