BA in Political Science and International Relations (PSIR)

Background of the Program

In the contemporary international system, which is essentially marked by complex challenges, knowledge and research driven political actions, policy decisions and diplomatic relation is extremely indispensable. Seen from this perspective, universities play pivotal role not only in producing highly qualified professionals to advance the political, diplomatic and economic interests of a given country at international level but also to solve problems and drive broader social, cultural, economic, political and technological developments and innovations. Universities serve as knowledge hub bridging the theory-practice gap. This is extremely important if one look from the context of Africa and Ethiopia where challenges in democratization, bad governance, corruption, human rights violation and poverty stand out. In order to transcend these challenges, investing in higher education, promoting diversifications and the horizontal and vertical expansion of academic programs is of extreme importance. 

In fact, this is what the Ethiopian government through its Ministry of Education (MoE) has been precisely doing over the last quarter a century where the number of public universities grew from just five in mid 1990s to over forty five today. In accordance with the Council of Ministers regulation no. 60/1999, the Ethiopian Higher Education Proclamation No. 650/2009 and BDU's Senate Legislation 2005, Bahir Dar University is mandated to establish, organize and determine the status, functions and responsibilities of academic units. Accordingly, Bahir Dar University has shown tremendous expansion in program diversity, research activities and community outreach. Today, driven by the motto 'Wisdom at the Source of the Blue Nile', Bahir Dar University's Strategic Plan 2014/15-2019/20 has set its direction in education and research programs that would address Ethiopia's development challenges and contribute to  growth, building human capabilities and democratic society. 

In this regards, the launching of the undergraduate program in Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) is part of this renewed focus and have been informed by a number of domestic and international conditions. Domestically, since the regime change in 1991, Ethiopia has gone through glaring policy experiments ranging from, parliamentarian politics, federalism and instituting the right for self-determination including secession but also political turmoil as witnessed over the last three years.  The policy measures have opened new ventures for scholarly engagement but also the demand for an army of technocrats at various levels.  Internationally, the end of the Cold War and the War on Terrorism brought a new dimension to conflict and security dynamism in the Horn of Africa necessitating the re-formulation of the traditional approach in the theory and practices of foreign policy. Moreover, as the African Union aspires to deliver its 'Agenda 2063', it underscores developing human capacity as key to achieve the collective vision of peace, integration and prosperity in the continent.

  In addition, the curriculum is formulated in line with the mission and vision of the department of Political Science and International Studies of Bahir Dar University. The department aspires to be one the top center of excellence in Africa in the fields of political science and international relations and related field. Cognizant of this motive, the designing of the curriculum has undergone through a series of steps taking into account major developments at national, regional and global level outlined above. In addition, the department has revised its curriculum by taking into account the courses of the Universities of Hravard-Kennedy School of Government- USA, London School of Economics and Political Science- UK, University of Cape Town- South Africa, and other universities in India, New Zealand, South Korea, and other institutions pertinent to the context of the country.

Lessons have also been taken from Ethiopian Universities offering degree program in PSIR viz. Addis Ababa University and newly established Political Science and International Relations programs at Wollega, Dire Dawa and Axum Universities. One of the key lessons learnt from is the challenges that PSIR face is to produce quality graduates. This is found to be due to the rigidity of the teaching and learning approach, its weakness to reconcile the world of education and the world of work. In addition it is short of satisfying the desire of students to be able to choose.  Lack of adequate resources and skilled man power are also serious challenges.

This curriculum is designed partly capitalizing on these challenges. Our aim is to address the constraints of the old approach by providing quality education for our graduates. Modularization of the curriculum, integration of practical and student centered teaching and learning approaches, prior organization of resources and adequate supply of highly qualified staff in the discipline are some of the leverages that Bahir Dar University has. In addition, a maximum effort is made to incorporate the desires of stakeholders and customers and pursuing a much more transparent and accountable curriculum to learners and stakeholders.

Moreover, the curriculum is prepared by adopting competence based education. Hence, generic competencies and subject specific competencies are integral parts of this curriculum. Courses are arranged, modified or adopted to increase the theoretical, practical, and subject related knowledge, skill and attitude of learners as well as to rise the capacity for analysis, synthesis, general knowledge, awareness of the national and international dimensions, capacity for independent learning, cooperation and communication and capacity for leadership. The department believes that this curriculum is not the final one, but it can be improved, developed and enriched through the feedbacks that come from students, customers, stakeholders, peer departments in accordance with the internal regulations of Bahir Dar University.

Rationale and Justifications

It is well known that Higher Education Institutions are vested in producing professionally qualified personals to meet the ever increasing needs of the country. In line with this, Higher Education Proclamation (No. 650| 2003) of Federal Republic of Ethiopia states that one of the objectives of Higher Education is to produce skilled man power both in sufficient quantity and commendable quality that will strive to maximize opportunities and address the various political and socio-economic challenges of the country.

In fact, post- 1991 political  and socio-economic and changes in Ethiopia especially the change in ideological orientation, introduction of federalism, re-orientation of the country’s foreign policy as well as decentralization as part of the democratization initiative necessitate professionals particularly of political science. Over the years, Ethiopia has been facing tremendous challenges. But the country is also emerging as a power house in the Horn and Africa at large. Given that Ethiopia is the center of African and international diplomacy as many Continental like African Union and International Organizations like the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa located in the Country, experts in political science are no doubt central in helping the country to continue to play a leading role.

In addition, it is well known that studies about Ethiopia on issues of governance, local government and decentralization, democratization, foreign policy, gender, identity and the like are not adequate. Thus, the opening of the program will definitely help to produce skilled and professional scholars to engage themselves in problem solving research activities and, in doing so, contribute their part to the overall development endeavor of the country.  

Furthermore, driven by the motto 'Wisdom at the Source of the Blue Nile', Bahir Dar University's Strategic Plan 2014/15-2019/20 has set its direction in education and research programs that would address Ethiopia's political and socio-economic development challenges and contribute to  growth, building human capabilities and democratic society. In order to realize this objective, Bahir Dar University has been putting relentless endeavors in diversifying and extending undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programs and research centers. The opening of Political Science and International Relations program at undergraduate level at this juncture shall be seen in light of this broader picture and integral part of the tools to realizing BDU’s vision and mission.

To this end, the task of developing the undergraduate curriculum was assigned to the curriculum designing committee of the Department of Political Science and International Studies. The committee after holding a series of meetings identified pressing needs in the field of study. The committee conducted need assessment survey to collect information from different stakeholders (see annex), and to the extent possible, has incorporated their suggestions and comments into the curriculum. It is also worth mentioning that the curriculum committee has raised a number of important issues that served as inputs for the curriculum especially from Alumni that are working in the Regional Bureaus and Federal government institutions and Public and Private International Organizations by administering questionnaires. The respondents have clearly indicated the urgent need to train students both in quantity and quality in Political Science and International Relations. Especially, the regional bureaus have shown great demand for short term trainings in such thematic areas as Conflict resolution and peace building, decentralization and local governance, public administration, etc.

After collecting, organizing and analyzing the data gained from need assessment a half day workshop was conducted. In the workshop experts from Addis Ababa University (see annex) and professionals from Amhara National Regional State Bureaus such as Human Rights Commission, Regional Council, Civil Service, Administration and Security Affairs have made valuable contribution enriching the contents of the curriculum. Based on their suggestions, the committee incorporated courses such as Governance and Public Institutions, Hydropolitics, Public Relations Theories and Practices, Democracy and Democratization, Human Rights and constitutionalism and Local Governments in Ethiopia.

The new Program of Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) curriculum of Bahir Dar University, therefore, is believed, should keep pace with the existing demands and the newest advances and developments in the field of study. To sum up, the most recent developments in the field, the developmental needs of the country, the needs and the interests of various stakeholders and the requirements of the new graduate profile which demand more skills training and professional capacity are the basis for the designing of this curriculum.

Course Breakdown Regular Program

YEAR I- Semester I