The Department of Biotechnology began its formal teaching activities in 2017, starting with 46 students. It currently admits new students through the regular program and launched an MSc Biotechnology program in 2022. Students and researchers in this department are involved in innovative research in areas such as genetic engineering, biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, and agricultural biotechnology, aiming to enhance human health and quality of life. Biotechnology is a rapidly expanding and interdisciplinary field that drives innovation in health, agriculture, food processing, industry, and environmental management. Biotechnologists work to correct, modify, or enhance specific traits in organisms for various practical applications, including improved food production, disease treatment, environmental conservation, and bioremediation of pollutants.
The achievement of the long-term vision of transforming Ethiopia into a middle-income country demands a transformation of the economy through application of science, technology and innovation as the major instruments for development and also transfer and adoption of proven technologies to local context. As stipulated in the National Biotechnology Road Map, to speed up the on-going economic progress at national level, developing capacity in terms of manpower and lab infrastructure should be given top priority. This requires strong human resources development policies that focus on modern Biotechnology education to train competent and innovative citizens. Biotechnology is a tool for circumventing numerous problems associated with agriculture, health, industry, and the environment and has a great application for economic growth. Its applications and uses are widespread at the global level.
The Department aspires to be one of the best biological sciences departments in Ethiopian Universities that contributes to the country’s endeavor contributing a sustainable development through generating well qualified expertise research and community service by 2029.
The mission of the Department is to produce competent and innovative professionals, well built in knowledge, ethics and skill development; conducting problem solving researches and transfer them to the community services and generate and adopt technologies that are environmentally sound, economically profitable and socially responsive in the area of biotechnological sciences.
