The major purpose of the training was to introduce the concept of tracer study and to enable the participants to undertake graduate tracer study in their respective academic programs. Bahir Dar Institute of Technology is on the way to implement quality assurance principles in its educational system. Graduate tracer study or Alumni research is one of the major instruments for implementing quality assurance. A graduate tracer study is a powerful monitoring and evaluation instrument to gain information about the relevance and effectiveness of higher education institutions’ programs.
Director for Institutional Transformation and Quality Assurance Office, Dr. Amare Matebu has introduced the purpose of the graduate tracer study training for Bahir Dar Institute of Technology. He has also mentioned the importance of tracer study for improving quality of education in the institute. He emphasized that graduate tracer study is one of the key instruments for quality assurance in the institute. Other instruments for quality assurance are:
* Student feedback mechanism
* Peer Review
* Video recording of lectures
* Employers / Stakeholders
* Department/Program Consultative Committees
On the other hand, the BiT Academic Program Office Coordinator, Ato Tefera Enyew has introduced the experience of Jimma Institute of Technology in conducting the graduate tracer study. He has briefed how Jimma institute of technology organize its graduate tracer study teams, method of study, sample size, time and budget required to study.
Finally, the participants have shown their interest to conduct the graduate tracer study in their respective academic programs in the Bahir Dar institute of technology. The graduate tracer study team will establish soon and start the tracer study in this academic year.
