Dear Students, Faculty, Alumni and Friends,

It is a great pleasure and honor for me to serve as the Scientific Director of Institute of Technology, Hawassa University.

The Institute of Technology was established in 1994 to provide a significant niche in the education and research of science and technology. The Institute of Technology (IoT) at Hawassa University is one of the first Technology Institutes established in Ethiopia to train students in different engineering and technology disciplines. The Institute has begun its activity in 1994 with four programs, namely, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering and Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization (established in 1976). However, the institute has now expanded its programs to 19 undergraduate, 18 postgraduate programs of which three are PhD programs. Institute of Technology (IoT) is striving to equip its young engineering graduates with the required knowledge and skill so that they can respond to the market demand of the day and thereby contribute to the growth and transformation of the country. Over a period of more than a decade, IoT has emerged as a leading institution in engineering and technologies areas.

Today, IoT is positioned to make key contributions to the advancement of technology solutions and sustainability research and to help lead the way toward sustainable growth of technological resources. The institute is preparing the next generation of engineers, technologies and leaders who will carry this path forward in the years ahead. The Institute is committed to create an ambience for nurturing innovation, creativity and excellence within its students. We, at IoT, strongly support interdisciplinary research and development for the benefit of Industry and Society. In the last few years, we have taken several initiatives, like introducing a new program Master Degree and PhD Program, upgrading of library resources, and adding big Lab building complex and several research projects. Many more ventures are being planned in the next couple of years to stay relevant in the era of innovation and disruption.

We are proud to say that the Institute is ideally placed to exploit the synergy within the engineering and technology departments at the Institute. In doing so, we believe the Institute will continue to create unique and novel MSc and PhD programmes to make significant contributions to Engineering, Science and Technology as a domain. We are confident that all our efforts will grow into significant epitomes of achievements in the larger academic parlance. Hopefully, our labors in all the major areas of science and technology will produce fruitful results in academic innovation, top-tier journal publications, citations and technology developments.

On a final note, I request all to take care of themselves and their families during this difficult time of COVID crisis. This too shall pass, and we will again embark on our journey to make IoT as one of the best academic destinations of our nation.

Fasika Bete Georgise (Dr.-Ing.)

Scientific Director, IoT