News
After spending a week block-teaching doctoral students at JiT, the two Texas Tech professors and program team members Dr. Ghebrab and Dr. Senadheera arrived at Lubbock, Texas. According to the professors, the block teaching was a success without prominent problem regarding the delivery of the courses. They reported that students were ready and enthusiastic about their official beginning of the course works. However, the block teaching wasn't without any minor inconveniences, such as very limited general knowledge of students about the postgraduate program they've enrolled in can be mentioned. After discussing the issue, the TTU team of professors agreed to seek a better way to keep students informed about the program and major deadlines. The professors were able to successfully deliver the block teaching and give final exams.
Dr. Ghebrab and Dr. Senadheera complete block teaching of doctoral students
Dr. Ekwaro and Dr. Uddameri to send their recorded block teaching materials to students
Aug. 5, 2016
Dr. Ekwaro, Dr. Uddameri, and Mr. Hutchison travel to Ethiopia
Dr. Ekwaro and Dr. Uddameri completed their recorded block teaching video and are ready to send CDs of the recordings to students.
The professors already have provided course materials to students during their last visit.
A team of two TTU professors and one TTU lab technician travels to Ethiopia to finalize the necessary agreements and arrangements among partner universities, the British Council, and the Ministry of Education. Dr. Ekwaro explained their stay as productive and stated that they have accomplished more than expected regarding mandatory actions to officially begin classes. He reported that classes are now ready to be started. While he and Dr. Uddameri were did not give block teaching, they provided individual public talks on important issues at JiT. On the other hand, TTU lab technician, Mr. Shannon Hutchison, made an assessment of the lab at JiT and discussed with JiT technicians about the lab equipment. He explained that many lab machines are out of order and it was difficult for the local lab technicians to fix since manuals are not available. Besides, he expressed his concern about the impact that the absence of full-time technician had on the functionality of the lab. Since the lab technicians are students (who are not full time technicians), they may have understanding of only a specific aspect of a lab equipment in which they focus on.
Dr. Ekwaro-Osire and Dr. Uddameri offer public talks at JiT
While on thier stay at JiT, Dr. Ekwaro and Dr. Uddameri offered individual public seminars. Dr. Ekwaro's talk entitled "Interdisciplinary Research at Texas Tech University" provided insights to the audience concerning the interdisciplinary research methodologies at Texas Tech. Dr. Uddameri's talk was on "Droughts - Impacts of Water Resources and Hydrologic Resiliency". His talk, which was intended to address drought issues of the country and methods of coping with the problem, raised awareness on the subject matter.
The first series of PhD seminars, organized under the umbrella of the Journal and Mentoring Academy, a component of the approved PhD program curriculum, was held from February 20 – February 21, 17 at JiT campus. PhD Seminars constitute are some of the activities that were designed as part of the homegrown PhD in Civil Engineering program at Jimma Institute of Technology (JiT). The activity was organized under the guidance of Dr. Job Kasule (International Scientific Coordinator, TTU) in collaboration with JiT officials, notably: Dr. Tamene Adugna (Scientific-Director, JiT), Prof. Esayas Alemayehu (Vice Scientific-Director, JiT), Dr. Towfic Jemal (Director for Postgraduate, Research and Publication, JiT), Mr. Mamuye Busier, Dean of School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, JiT) and Mr. Abdissa Tolera, (Coordinator, PhD Homegrown Program, JiT). (Read more)
The Journal and Mentoring Academy hosts its first homogrown PhD seminar presentation series
Feb. 20, 2017
Professor Aranha teaches a block course at EiABC
Professor Aranha traveled to Addis Ababa to teach a block course to students of the program at EiABC.(In pictures)