Dire Dawa University has held a First Round community service proposal review workshop on 16 January 2021 at Red Hall, Main Campus.
Dr. Megersa Kassim, Vice President for Academic Affairs, gave a speech representing president of the university that one of the three pillars of the university is to deliver Community services to the nearby community. For this to happen, community based and problem solving projects are being drafted and plenty budget is allocated, he explained. As to him, among the 11 community service proposals, four will be chosen and taken in action immediately.
Dr. Megersa added that the university has already been collaboratively working community services with Dire Dawa Administration; and there will be more cooperation in working together on Mega projects and Research areas.
Dr. Solomon Zerihun, Vice President for Research and Community Services, on his part stated that the university has previously not been effective in engaging the nearby community in community service activities, but now problems should be clearly identified and taken as directions for future tasks, and problem solving community service proposals have to be drafted in order to engage the community and make them beneficiaries of the services.
He added that his office has already discussed with the community on the priority areas; thus the office will immediately get in action on the areas mentioned by the community as priority areas to be done first and foremost.
It was also learnt in the community service proposal review that A Lecturer and Proposal presenter, Biniyam Assefa, presented a community service proposal which would be used to create job opportunities for the youths in the Township such as Bus Stops, Shops and Shoe Shining places as well as Air coolers due to Hotness in Dire Dawa without ignoring the beauty of the Queen city of the Desert.
