1.    Directorate’s Message

Dear Viewers, Welcome to Research and Development Website page. It is my pleasure to introduce you our research activities.

Research and development directorate has been started its work since its establishment accountableto Vice President of Research and community Service. It aims to facilitate research and publicationof research findings to disseminate it to the end users. The directorate assigned to it under the senate legislation of WKU shall do the following tasks: planning, organizing, leading, managing and controlling the activities of all research programs and regulating overall research affairs of theuniversity; coordinating and facilitating collaborative research programs with donors and funding agencies; organizing research proposal development team for the purpose of searching external research grants; coordinating and facilitating research activities; Call for concept note, concept note & proposal review; allocate research budgets; organizing and monitoring periodic revision of thematic research areas; follow up the proper implementation of policies, rules and regulations for research programs; and fostering institutional review board and follow up the research ethics; organizing the activities of the journal publication and facilitate to be recognized in world leadingdatabase system; facilitate and organize research related training and annual research conference.

We are working on the remarkable effort to recall the university and continue its competency. I call you to explore and enjoy our website of our work at WKU. I invite you to join us to work together in achieving the goals.

Warm regards,

Dr. Teshome Yitbarek, Research and Development Directorate, Director Phone no.: +251927426316

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2.    Research Database

The research databases is easily searchable research related information in Wolkite University granted by internal or external donor. This research database includes those researches done in Wolkite University granted by WKU or by other donors and compiled the data in website for communicating with the readers. It can be illustrated as completed or/and ongoing and grant type.This will allow to search and differentiate individual’s research works that has been done in different years.

3.    Thematic Areas

The directorate created the research thematic areas based on the priority of the country, mission ofthe university and the need of the surrounding community. Therefore, the thematic area can be revised based on the need of the community accordingly.

4.    Research Project Sites

There are about four research sites (Yefereze, Geche, Wabe and Gedeb) where enset, coffee, fruits and medicinal plant related researches are taking place.

 

                                                                     RESEARCH THEMATIC AREAS OF WOLKITE UNIVERSITY

Research Priority Area 1: Agriculture and Natural Resource

Theme 1: Livestock and Fishery Production

Sub-theme 1: Genetics and breed improvement

Sub-theme 2: Feed and feeding improvement

Sub-theme 3: Animal health and welfare

Sub-theme 4: Input supply and service delivery

Sub-theme 5: Livestock production and environment

Sub-theme 6: Beekeeping

Theme 2: Cereal, Horticulture & Oil Crop Improvements

Sub-theme 1: Seed System

Sub-theme 2: Agronomy and physiology of crops

Sub-theme 3: Existing major production constraints (disease &pest)

Sub-theme 4: Postharvest handling

Sub-theme 5: Crops breeding and improvement

Sub-theme 6: Tropical and subtropical fruit

Sub-theme 7: Coffee production

Sub-theme 8: Enset production

Theme 3: Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation

Sub-theme 1: Biodiversity conservation

Sub-theme 2: Wildlife conservation and management

Theme 4: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Sub-theme1: Environmental resistance and genetically crops variety improvement

Sub-theme2: Vaccine and drug development

Sub-theme3: Cross breeding and tissue culture

Theme 5: Natural Resource Management

Sub-theme 1: Watershed management

Sub-theme 2: Soil resource management and agro-forestry

Sub-theme 3: Forest conservation and management

Sub-theme 4: Environmental management and climate change

Sub-theme 5: Irrigation water resources development and management

Sub-Theme 6: Natural resource and social conflict

Theme 6: Natural Resources Economics Concern

Sub-Theme 1: Natural resource &environmental valuation

Theme 7: Agricultural Extension System and Service Delivery

Sub-theme 1: Technological impact, economic efficacy, value chain

Sub-theme 2: Food security,

Sub-theme 3: Agriculture innovation and adoption

Theme 8: Agri-business Marketing, and Value chain

Sub-theme 1: Value creation and gender dynamics

Sub-theme 2: Value Chain for Strategic Agricultural Commodities

Sub-theme 3: Production challenge, cooperative, Farming system

Theme 9: Agricultural Mechanization

Sub-theme 1: Design and prototyping of farm implements

Sub-theme 2: Design and prototyping of livestock production and processing technology

Sub-theme 3: Development of mechanized irrigation system

Sub-theme 3: Development of packaging and storage technology

Research Priority Area 2: Manufacturing and Engineering

Theme 1: Constriction Materials and Technology

Sub-theme 1: Construction project management

Sub-theme 2: Materials science & advancement of materials

Sub-theme 3: Low-cost construction materials and methods

Sub-theme 4: Irrigation technology

Sub-theme 5: Hydraulic structures

Sub-theme 6: Transport system & safety

Theme 2: Regional and Urban Planning and Design

Sub-theme 1: Land escape and ecological architecture

Theme 3: Textile and Fashion Technology

Sub-theme 1: Industrial process and quality control

Sub-theme 2: Development and optimization of machineries

Sub-theme 3: Novel technologies and process improvement in textile sectors

Sub-theme 4: Apparel enterprise development and technology transfer

Sub-theme 5: Analysis and improvement of sewing workstation for garment industry and related.

Theme 4: Emerging Technology & Innovative Product Development

Research Priority Area 3: Culture and Tourism

Theme 1: Culture & Tourism Development

Sub-theme 1: Tourism attraction

Sub-theme 2: Hotel and service industry for tourism

Sub theme 3: Theatre and community development

Sub theme 4: Language, culture and folklore

Sub theme 5: Identity and tradition

Sub theme 6: History and heritage management

Sub-theme 7: Film

Sub-theme 8: Cultural sports 

Research Priority Area 4: Mining and Energy

Theme 1: Earth Resources Exploration

Sub-theme 1: Ground water exploration

Sub-theme 2: Geo-hazard assessment

Theme 2: Energy & Energy Management Systems

Sub-theme 1: Renewable energy

Sub-theme 2: Geotechnical and environmental engineering

Research Priority Area 5: Digital Technology

Theme 1: Information and Communication Technology

Sub-theme 1: Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Sub-theme 2: Networking and Security

Sub-theme 3: Software and Reverse Engineering

Sub-theme 4: Digital Inclusion

Sub-theme 5: Data Science, Big Data and High-Performance computing

Sub-theme 6: Internet of Things and Embedded System

Sub-theme 7: Telecommunications and IT Infrastructures

Sub theme 8: Algorithm Designing, Simulation & Modeling and Computer Architecture

Sub-theme 9: Human Computer Interaction

Sub-theme 10: Distributed/Cloud/Green/Mobile/Edge/Pervasive Computing

Sub-theme 11: Augmented and Virtual Reality

Sub-theme 12: Quantum Computing

Research Priority Area 6: Education

Theme 1: Education and Leadership

Sub-theme 1: Quality education

Sub-theme 2: Education policy and leadership

Sub-theme 3: Change and innovation in education

Sub-theme 3: School supervision and managements of change

Sub-theme 4: Curriculum relevance and teacher education

Sub-theme 5: Teaching- learning, assessment and evaluation

Sub-theme 6: ECCE (Early Child Care and Education) and child development

Theme 2: Psychology and Well Being

Sub-theme 1: Behavioral problems in children and adolescence

Sub-theme 2: Psychosocial issues

Sub-theme 3: Social influence on individual behavior

Sub-theme 4: Guidance & counseling

Sub-theme 5: Career development and choices

Sub-theme 6: Disability, vulnerability and inclusiveness

Research Priority Area 7: Health and Wellbeing

Theme 1: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Sub-theme 2: Health care seeking behavior of the community

Sub-theme 3: Behavioral and social determinants of health

Sub-theme 2: Health service and safety, outbreak control and management

Sub-theme 4: Nutrition

Sub-theme 5: Orphan, disability and socially disadvantaged groups

Theme 2: Reproductive, Sexual, Maternal, Newborn, Child health

Sub Theme1: Reproductive and sexual health

Sub Theme2: Maternal, new-born and child health

Sub Theme3: Young people’s reproductive health and substance use/abuse

Sub Theme 4: Gender based violence and Women empowerment and Harmful traditional practices

Theme 3: Sport for Health

Sub-theme 1: Mass sport and sport for fitness

Theme 4: Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety

Sub-theme 1: Housing/health problems in residential and institutional environment

Sub-theme 2: Food & water handling, safety and hygiene

Sub-theme 3: Waste management, sanitation and personal hygiene.

Sub-theme 4: Occupational health and hazards

Theme 5: Communicable & Non-Communicable Disease and Control

Sub-theme 1: Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and communicable disease control

Sub theme 2: chronic and non-communicable disease

Sub-theme 3: Mental health & wellbeing

Research Priority Area 8: Governance, Human Security & Macroeconomy Concern

Theme 1: Macroeconomy, Leadership and Governance

Sub theme 1: Leadership strategy & challenge

Sub theme 2: Market and government regulation

Sub theme 3: Business ethics and corporate governance

Sub-theme 4: Investment climate and industrial policy

Sub-theme 5: Structural transformation

Sub-theme 6: Regional economic integration and international finance

Sub theme 7: Morality, ethics & corruption

Sub theme 8: Conflict, peace and security

Sub theme 9: Federalism and local governance

Sub theme 10: Politics and international relation

Sub-theme11: Hydro politics

Sub theme 12: Democratization

Research Priority Area 9: Development & Business

Theme 1: Urbanization, Modernization and Migration

Sub-theme 1: Urban planning and land governance

Sub-theme 2: Rural-urban linkages

Sub-theme 3: Rural and urban infrastructures and utilities

Sub-theme 4: Unemployment and human capital

Sub theme 5: poverty reduction & livelihood/income diversification

Sub theme 6: Entrepreneurship

Sub-theme 7: Deviance and crime,

Sub-theme 8: Development projects and social dimension

Theme 2: Business, Economics and Finance

Sub theme 1: Financial management and auditing

Sub theme 2: Taxation concern

Sub theme 3: Financial market and institutions

Research Priority Area 9: Justices and Rule of Law

Theme 1: Human Rights, Public and International law

Sub-theme 1: International and trans-boundary water law

Sub-theme 2: International humanitarian law

Sub-theme 3: Constitution and constitutionalism

Sub-theme 4: Media law and access to public information

Sub-theme 5: Rule of law and administrative law

Sub-theme 6: Election laws

Theme 2: Protection of Right and Access to Justice

Sub theme 1: Protection of rights of children, women and other vulnerable groups

Sub theme 2: Property, economic, labor & employment right

Sub theme 3: criminal justices & fair trail right

Sub theme 4: Development & right

Research Priority Area 10: Indigenous Knowledge Development

Theme 1: Agriculture and Natural Resource

Sub-theme 1: Livestock production and indigenous knowledge

Sub theme 2: Indigenous agricultural knowledge and practices

Theme 2: Manufacturing and Engineering

Sub-theme 1: Indigenous clothing and globalization of fashion products

Theme 3: Culture and Tourism

Sub-theme 1: Indigenous performance

Theme 4: Health and Wellbeing

Sub-theme 1: Traditional and herbal medicine

Sub-theme 2: Traditional health care practices

Sub-theme 3: Traditional foods and nutritional approaches

Theme 5: Justices and Rule of Law

Sub-theme 1: Indigenous restorative justice and cultural rights