Still unsure of what college program will help you land a thriving career? If you’re an Ethiopian local, then this article is for you! Scholarships for Africans lists down the top 10 degree programs in Ethiopia that you might also want to consider.
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A situationer on Ethiopian education
Ethiopia is the second-most populous country in Africa, next to Nigeria. With a population of 105 million, the country only has 757,000 tertiary students as per UIS data in 2014. This number is already a 2,000 percent increase against the meager 34,000 registered tertiary students in 1991.
Collegiate education in Ethiopia is growing exponentially. In fact, the British Council has predicted an additional 1.7 million student increase by 2025.
The size and scope of public universities in Ethiopia vary significantly. However, the majority are multi-disciplinary institutions that offer undergraduate and graduate programs. These universities concentrate on providing mass education rather than research.
Popular fields of study by degree level
About 95% of Ethiopian students are enrolled in undergraduate programs. In 2015 alone, the country recorded 729,028 undergraduate students. Meanwhile, there were 37,152 graduate students and 3,135 students under doctoral programs.
According to World Education News, the most popular fields of study in undergraduate programs at public institutions were engineering and technology, business and economics, and the social sciences and humanities.
At private institutions, more than 50 percent of students studied business and economics. This was followed by health sciences, engineering, and technology. On the other hand, social sciences and humanities were the most popular degree programs in Ethiopia at the graduate level.
What are the most popular degree programs in Ethiopia?
Overall, students in Ethiopia prioritize enrolling in technological and business industries as the country intends to be a middle-income economy by 2025.
Since Ethiopia’s major industries include agriculture, construction, manufacturing, resources and energy, tourism, and food processing, students and industry players alike are investing more knowledge and time within these income-generating fields.
On the other hand, social sciences and humanities programs rank lower despite their popularity.
Are you looking for degree programs that have great career potential in the immediate future? Take a look at these top 10 degree programs in Ethiopia and see if you’ve found the right fit!
Management
A bachelor’s degree in Management involves obtaining knowledge and skills in organization and supervising. It includes studying management and leadership, as well as marketing, events, and public relations.
Managerial positions entail the organization of corporate meetings, internal and external affairs, as well as the preparation of budgets, along with management of support staff.
Engineering
Engineering is about designing processes and making products to solve real-world problems. There are now six major branches of Engineering, namely: Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Management, and Geotechnical Engineering.
Engineers figure out how things work and find practical uses for scientific discoveries. While scientists and inventors often get the credit for innovations that advance the human condition, engineers are instrumental in making those innovations available to the world.
Economics
Economics is a science that covers the issues of supply and demand for goods and services. It also deals with the impacts of economic conditions and the overall markets. A bachelor’s degree in Economics offers courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, calculus, combined with public finance, international trade theory, along with financial management.
The duties of an economist are analyzing and interpreting economic data, making mathematical models and reports, providing economic consulting, as well as estimating economic impacts, also forecasting economic conditions.
Health
A bachelor’s degree in Health Management is divided into specializations such as: Healthcare Administration program that includes Financial Management, Healthcare Information Systems, Healthcare Law and Healthcare Ethics; and Healthcare Management that covers Quality Management, Healthcare Economics, and Strategic Management.
The duties of the specialist in Healthcare Administration are management, coordination and supervision of healthcare services, improvement of the quality of care. Healthcare managers supervise administrative staff, work with insurances, consult medical staff, answer phones, complete documentation, and handle finances.
Environmental Studies
Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary subject examining the interplay between the social, legal, management, and scientific aspects of environmental issues. Students of environmental studies learn the causes, effects, and possible solutions to address important environmental problems.
Business
The aim of a bachelor’s degree program in Business is to obtain knowledge and skills for effective organizing and managing of various kinds of businesses. Undergraduate students are involved in various business courses including business administration, HR management, international economics, and social sciences, microeconomics, macroeconomics, public relations, together with computer science and finance.
The main tasks of a graduate student in Business Studies include developing and implementing business goals and objectives, forecasting sales and market situation, as well as organizing and supervising work of staff, monitoring the achievement of business goals, and realization of business plans, along with designing marketing strategies.
Computer Science
Computer Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that covers computer science and electrical engineering. The program of the Bachelor of Computer Engineering includes courses on electronics, hardware design, as well as mathematics and physics, along with operating methods, which includes communicative systems, etc.
Computer Engineering students are tasked with creating and developing computer hardware, as well as testing together with repairing computers, which includes developing different computer devices along with equipment.
Medicine
A bachelor’s degree in Medicine prepares specialists for various health organizations and businesses. The program includes medical courses in anatomy, physiology, histology, microbiology, pharmacology, psychiatry, etc., and clinical practice.
A graduate medical student has skills in providing health consulting, diagnosing human diseases, using different medical imaging techniques, planning treatment, taking samples for laboratory tests. The tasks of postgraduates include an explanation of risks and disease prevention, the support of patients and their relatives.
Natural Sciences
Natural Sciences students study natural phenomena and processes by observing and carrying out experiments. A bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences involves theoretical and practical courses in biology, together with chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The program includes courses in computer science, pharmacology, earth sciences, as well as psychology, and astrophysics.
The undertakings of a postgraduate in Natural Science include conducting research in fields of biology, chemistry, earth science, together with managing projects, supervising lab technicians, collecting and analyzing data, making reports and presentations of results.
Agriculture
The Agriculture program involves obtaining knowledge in agricultural studies, these include forestry, farm management, and agricultural sales. It offers specializations in subjects such as Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Soil Science, Agricultural Business, Plant Protection, Food Science, etc.
The tasks of Agriculture Science students depend on their chosen specialization of study. For example, a fellow undergraduate of agricultural engineers designs and oversees agricultural machinery and manufacturing operations, whilst students of agricultural business management provide the organization of the production process, accordingly, learners wishing to become farm managers learn to coordinate growing activities, supervise staff, and determine procedural changes.
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