Unity University is a

private university Private universities and private colleges are institutions of higher education, not operated, owned, or institutionally funded by governments. They may (and often do) receive from governments tax breaks, public student loans, and grant (money ...

Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the Er ...

. It is the first privately owned institute of higher learning to be awarded full-fledged university status in Ethiopia by the

Ministry of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

. It is also the first private university in the country to offer postgraduate programs leading to

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in business administration (MBA) and

development economics Development economics is a branch of economics which deals with economic aspects of the development process in low- and middle- income countries. Its focus is not only on methods of promoting economic development, economic growth and structural ...

(MA).

History

Established in 1991, Unity

language school A language school is a school where one studies a foreign language. Classes at a language school are usually geared towards, for example, communicative competence in a foreign language. Language learning in such schools typically supplements ...

was offering English, Arabic, French and Italian language courses. It started with less than 50 students, a few part-time teachers, and administration personnel. Progressively, the institute launched diploma programs in accounting, marketing, business, personnel administration, secretarial science and office management from 1997 to 1999. In March 1998 the institute was upgraded to a college level, following its achievements in education, becoming the first privately owned college in Ethiopia. Through the years, the institute has played a pioneering role in providing quality education, setting a fine record. Later named Unity College, the institute has launched degree programs in various disciplines. Unity was promoted to university level in September 2008, becoming the first privately owned university. It has since been known as Unity University,(U.U.).

Role

In addition to its educational role, the university encourages research and holds annual multi-disciplinary conferences. The proceedings of these conferences are published in its academic journal, ''The Ethiopian Journal of Business and Development''. Unity University is also very active in

community service Community service is unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community without any form of compensation. Community service can be distinct from volunteering, since it is not always perform ...

programs. It is involved in activities related to

environmental protection Environmental protection is the practice of protecting the natural environment by individuals, organizations and governments. Its objectives are to conserve natural resources and the existing natural environment and, where possible, to repair da ...

and has participated in the "Clean and Green Addis Ababa" initiative. Unity has also participated in other programs sponsored by the city council and

chamber of commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ...

of Addis Ababa, such as

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of '' Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immu ...

and AIDS awareness and prevention. The university offers scholarships to students with financial difficulties, including a girls’ project, which extends assistance to deserving female students who lack financial resources. It also gives scholarships to its own staff who wish to upgrade their academic status, and to students with outstanding records in sports and other cultural activities.

Size

As of January 2012, the student population was 5,193, with 324 enrolled in the postgraduate program, 4,313 in undergraduate studies, and 556 in TVET programs including distance and continuing programs offered at its various centers. Unity has seventy-six academic staff of which five are women.

Requirements

*Postgraduate **For MBA and MBA specializing marketing - Holders of bachelor's degrees from recognized colleges and universities in such disciplines as management, marketing management, accounting, economics, engineering, medicine, public administration, political science among others. **For MA in development economics: Holders of bachelor's degrees in economics and related fields of specialization from recognized colleges and universities. *Undergraduate **As per the policies and regulations of the ministry of education (MOE) for admission to a tertiary level education institution in Ethiopia. ***Completion of college preparatory school and with 360 and above points ***GPA 3.00 and above in ESLCE for female applicants and GPA of 3.2 and above in ESLCE for male applicants. ***Graduate from recognized universities and colleges can also apply for admission in advance standing or otherwise. *Levels **As per the policies and regulation of the MOE for admission to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs.

Duration

*Postgraduate **Regular - three **Extension -four year *Undergraduate **Regular - Four to six years

Facilities

Library A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vi ...

*Computer labs with broadband Internet access *Printing house *

Bookstore Bookselling is the commercial trading of books which is the retail and distribution end of the publishing process. People who engage in bookselling are called booksellers, bookdealers, bookpeople, bookmen, or bookwomen. The founding of librar ...

*TV and radio studio *Sport facilities *Cafeteria services *

Clinic A clinic (or outpatient clinic or ambulatory care clinic) is a health facility that is primarily focused on the care of outpatients. Clinics can be privately operated or publicly managed and funded. They typically cover the primary care nee ...

Pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medication, medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it ...

Notable alumni

Hayat Ahmed Hayat Ahmed Mohammed (born 1982) is an Ethiopian model and beauty pageant titleholder. Her name in Arabic means "life." Hayat Ahmed was Ethiopia's first representative to Miss World pageant. At the time of the competition, she was a third-year st ...

, model and beauty queen *

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu (born 1980) is an Ethiopians, Ethiopian businesswoman, founder and executive director of soleRebels, Africa's "fastest growing footwear company". Bethlehem has received #Honors and accolades, honors and accolades for her bu ...

, businesswoman, class of 2004 * Dawit Kebede, journalist and winner of the 2010 CPJ International Press Freedom Award *

Amleset Muchie Amleset Muchie ( am, አምለሰት ሙጬ; born April 5, 1987) is an Ethiopian model, actress, and filmmaker. She is the wife of Ethiopian singer Teddy Afro since 2012. Early life and career Amleset was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on April ...

, actress and model (wife of

Teddy Afro Teddy is an English language given name, usually a hypocorism of Edward or Theodore (given name), Theodore. It may refer to: People Nickname * Teddy Atlas (born 1956), boxing trainer and fight commentator * Teddy Bourne (born 1948), British Olymp ...

)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unity University Educational institutions established in 1998 1998 establishments in Ethiopia Universities and colleges in Ethiopia Education in Addis Ababa