Being a developing country, biotechnology is at its very infant stage in Ethiopia due to several reasons. Lack of well-trained and skillful manpower in the science of biotechnology is considered as one of the major obstacles in rendering its applications in the development agenda. Recently, the government has given due emphasis for the sector to start from the scratch by establishing higher institutions and research centers which are to be used for education and research to cater the multifaceted roles of biotechnology in food security, improved health care services, highly efficient production technologies in the industries and creating greener or environmentally friendly technologies. In addition, there has been a growing concern towards feeding and providing drug for the alarmingly growing population via following the conventional methods of production. Pollution and climate change are also other threats to human well-being and they have to be addressed with due concern by making use of technologies which ascertain better quality of the environment as well as comfortable to dwell in. Thus, DebreMarkos University has opened biotechnology as a department entailing the high significance of producing highly capable and competitive graduates aiming to bridge the lack of man power who are crucial to work in higher institutions and high schools/preparatory schools, research institutes, industries (food, drug and beer), environmental protection authorities, waste treatment agencies (solid and liquid wastes), etc. The curriculum of the department has comprised mainly of recent and applied science courses in molecular genetics, biochemistry, plant biotechnology, cell and tissue culture, animal biotechnology, genomics, bioinformatics, breeding, medical, microbial, industrial and environmental biotechnologies. It has paramount significance in terms of bringing and applying new insights into the agricultural produces, product design and recovery, drug design and production, environmental safety and management by using the knowledge and principles of biotechnology. The department will make a stride effort in attaining the mission of the university by working in collaboration with its stakeholders and fulfilling the necessary facilities and the graduates will also surely contribute a pivotal role at various institutes and enterprises in the country.
Mission
To be the center of excellence in training, education, research and community services in agricultural biotechnology, microbial biotechnology, biomedicine and environmental biotechnology which will be guided by sound scientific and ethical principles
Vision
The vision of biotechnology department is to secure food to our nation and have improved health status by producing highly competitive graduates and bioengineers who have the potential to invent problem solving technologies taking account of the society-environment inter-links.
• Academic Staff statistics
| Sex | BSC | MSC | PHD | Total |
| Male | 6 | |||
| Female | 1 | |||
| Total | 7 |
Administrative Staff Statistics
| Sex | Certificate | Diploma | BSC | MSC | PhD | Total |
| Male | ||||||
| Female | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 1 | 1 |
Student statistics
Year Program Total
Regular Extension Summer
Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total
Year 1 34 32 66 – – – 38 33 71 137
Year 2 26 33 59 – – – – – 59
Year 3 16 19 35 – – – – – – 35
etc
Graduated – – – – – – – – – –
