Bahir Dar University has a long experience in teaching both in undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The university is working to achieve its vision to be one of the top ten research university in Africa by 2025; to achieve this objective the university prepared a strategic plan and give a great emphasis in the development of high level expertise in MSc and PhD Education.
Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering is one of the five faculties in Bahir Dar Institute of Technology; the faculty has the aim to produce expertise in electrical engineering and carry out problem solving researches. The faculty is structured by five chairs such as Energy and Power Systems Engineering, Communication Systems Engineering, Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Microelectronics Engineering, and Computer Engineering. The faculty has two programs in BSc and 2 programs in MSc level. Energy and Power Systems Engineering chair is one that has long experience in teaching both at BSc and MSc level. For the last 7 years, this chair delivered MSc study in power system engineering and contributes to the development of the country.
On march 05, 2016, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering prepared a workshop on PhD in Electrical Power Engineering curriculum review, MSc in Electrical Power Engineering curriculum revision and MSc in Control and Automation Engineering Curriculum review.
The document for PhD curriculum was prepared and presented by Dr.-Ing. Belachew Bantyirega. The external reviewers from Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Dr.
Mengesha Mamo and Dr.-Ing. Getachew Biru expressed their views and constructive comments which can serve as a guide to develop adequate PhD curriculum in Electrical Power Engineering. Participant reviewers Dr Ashamo Frengo from Wachemo university, Assistant Professor Kemal Ibrahim from Adama Science and Technology University, invited guests from EEPCO and Senior faculty staffs expressed constructive comments that enrich the curriculum.
All reviewers agree that the longtime experience of the faculty in teaching both BSc and MSc courses be the main rational for opening this PhD program in electrical power engineering and the faculty of electrical and computer engineering has gathered a lot of experience during this time and is matured enough to launch the PhD program. Reviewers also gave constructive comments on the admission and graduation requirements, research areas, major and optional doctorial courses. Establishing collaboration between Bahir Dar University and other national and international universities and industries are indicated as one important input for the program.
The presenter reflected on comments and questions raised by the reviewers, invited guests and faculty staffs. Finally he concluded by acknowledging the reviewers, invited guests and other participants of the workshop.
In two parallel sessions, curriculum revision for MSc in Electrical Power Systems Engineering and review of MSc curriculum in Control and Automation Engineering conducted. The need to revise the curriculum and the course breakdown and contents of the power system engineering curriculum is presented by Dr.-Ing. Belachew B. supportive comments were given that the courses of the revised curriculum are well organized and the courses are high levels which are geared to be the input for the PhD program. MSc curriculum in control and automation engineering is presented by Dr. Balaji V. and constructive comments were also given by the reviewers and invited guests.
Scientific
Director of BiT, Dr. Nigus Gabbiye, in his closing speech stated that BiT is
opening PhD programs in different programs, Electrical Power Engineering is one
of them, to produce high level expertise in order to meet the objectives of the
university to become one of the top ten research university in Africa in 2025. Finally he acknowledges Dr. Belachew B. who
prepared the document, external reviewers, invited guests and faculty staffs
for the valuable support and comments they gave in the workshop to enrich the
document.
