Debre Markos University, Burie Campus hosts the first Annual National Research symposium colorfully

Debre Markos University, Burie Campus hosts the first annual national research symposium under the theme “Promoting Multidisciplinary Novel Research For a Bright Future” under the presence of honorable and distinguished guests, researchers, dwellers of Burie town, participants of various Institutions and concerned bodies colorfully in Burie Campus Venue from 8-9 February 2020.

Professor Belay Simane, Researcher and instructor at Addis Ababa University, Guest of Honor and keynote speaker delivering speech

Mr. Girmaw Ashebir, Debre Markos University Public Relations and Communications Directorate Director speaking at the stage says that Debre Markos University  has done enormous activities in the teaching-learning, research and community services to achieve its missions since its establishment and provided competent, knowledgeable and skillful graduates to the country.

Now a day, the University has many instructors who are teaching and conducting demand driven researches and delivering community services based on the findings of the researches and need assessments made in the community for various community members including capacity building, free legal aid and consultancy services for the needy groups. Furthermore, administrative workers are playing their own roles in supporting the instructors for the realizations of the missions of the University, Girmaw added.

Girmaw in his speech shows that 57 undergraduate programs, 47 post graduate programs in second degree and 2 PhD programs are being offered for trainees in the University with a total of 30739 students in all programs. The University has also made collaborations with 25 institutions to work together towards the successful accomplishment of its missions, he remarked.

Dr. Tsebelu Abayneh, Debre Markos University Burie Campus Dean warmly welcomes the respective honorary guests, researchers, participants of the symposium and wishes well stay at Burie and to be active participants in the presentation and discussion floors.

The researchers are multidisciplinary as the theme clearly specifies. Thus the researches are on Agriculture, Business, Ethics, Economics and others, Dr. Tsebelu reminds.

Sister Genet Degu, Debre Markos University Research and Community Service Vice President, opening the symposium states that though the University has engaged in various researches, there are still many untapped problems that need to be studied and solved. Research is a means for alleviating the problems of the community. Thus, researchers must conduct demand driven researches and solve the problems of the community and foster development since the very reason for conducting research is to serve human kind. Thereby, guidelines must direct researchers towards conducting researches for community development and feeding the community focusing on the yet untapped research potentials by incorporating indigenous knowledge, Sister Genet underlines.

Professor Belay Simane, Pioneer Researcher on Choke Watershed, Project Developer, Author of Scholarly books and an Instructor at Addis Ababa University in his keynote speech appreciating the tremendous activities that Bure Campus has done in the teaching-learning, but little effort has been given for research and community services. He states that institutions need to be durable and enduring by working through the community, develop culture of academic enterprise, need to be socially embedded and must become effective partners for both local and national initiatives.

In stating the good opportunities that Bure Campus has Belay says that the Campus is located in an area of good climate, ample arable land and cheap labor, and a range of agro-ecological zones. In addition to these, the establishment of the campus itself and the establishment of Burie-Agro industrial park are good opportunities that the campus could work with.

Professor Belay also indicates that population growth and the demand for researches, disconnection of University-industry linkage, disciplinary and academic research activities are the problems that really exist on the ground. The most important problems that Burie campus is confronting cannot be solved by individual scientific researches made in isolation. Thus, multidisciplinary research is the best solution to solve the problem, Professor Belay underlines.

The inherent complexity of nature and society, multiple sources of agricultural problems and management challenges are among those things that demand multidisciplinary research, he remarks.

Finally, professor Belay underlines that understanding the context, establishing industry-rural linkage, analyzing and communicating environment-societal interactions for the industry parks, actions for a more sustainable future and scaling up success will enable Burie campus relevant to the community.

Burie has the land, water and people needed to be efficient producers. Thus, transforming the landscape and improving the livelihoods of the people are demanding that could be achieved by changing the research culture to multidisciplinary research Professor Belay concluded.

It is noted that a total of 23 research papers were presented in the research symposium and let for discussion. Questions and suggestions were given as per the papers.

On the same news participants of the symposium visit Phivela Industrial Park (BelaynehKindie) and Bure Agro-Indusrial park.

Finally, participants suggest and comment things to be improved and added for the betterment of the coming research symposium. Participants also assure that Burie could be better if it continues its effort as it begins. Participants finally thank the research committee for their organizations, accommodations and other things they provide.