Oromia State University (OSU)

Well Come to the Stream or Department of Common Courses

1. Overview

In the Ethiopian Higher Education institutions, even though some of the “Common Courses were given earlier in the different departments for many years, they were re-arranged and established as new approach in 2020 G.C at all conventional universities in general and at OSU in particular.

What are the Common Courses at all?

The “Common Courses” (also known as “General Education Courses”) are typically designed to teach diverse skills that every person should master in order to lead a productive life and become knowledgeable citizen. The Common courses provide a well-rounded foundation of knowledge and skills as well as a broader understanding of the world. They also enable students to gain a more holistic understanding of the entire circle of life in providing foundation which promotes successful learning opportunities and skills that can be applied to everyday life. They also promote opportunity to grow skills, knowledge and perspectives that are relevant to all members of society.

Regarding our University (OSU), the stream or department of common courses were also re-organized and established in 2020 G.C which involve nearly 20 different courses in which many of them can be offered for all departments and some of them given for few departments. The nature of the courses are organized from different disciplines which consists of various professionals that equipped with all rounded knowledge, skills and behavior, and this make the department unique from the others.

Why Common Courses? (Importance)

Now a days, at work place, we are bounded to interact with many people from diverse background and perspectives. In this regard, education of today should focus much more about ways of thinking which involve creative and critical approaches to problem-solving and decision-making in the society. For this reason, Common courses help students to develop soft skills which enable people to coexist positively rather than promoting conflicts in the work place, and assist students to acquire the skills essential for critical thinking skills, strengthen written and oral communication skills, etc.

1. Objectives

Generally, the followings are some of the main objectives of Common Courses that help students to:

• Develop capacity to think rationally, critically and generate new ideas to enhance teamwork.
• Build a positive interpersonal relationship through effective communication abilities.
• Develop skills that help to fight against prejudice and ethnocentrism by analyzing a situations to form a sound judgment.
• Appreciate and celebrate diversity by accepting it as resources through learning how to live with differences and learning how to learn from differences.
• Prepare widely future employees who have a positive attitude, more productive and useful to the organizations.
• Promote fostering moral values and standards inside the organization that can create a culture of integrity and responsible conduct.
• Enhance skills to constructively handle criticism without making rash decisions due to ego-driven motivations.

Role of Common Courses Department

1. Plan, organize and support the teaching-learning process of first (1^st year) admitted at regular, Night and Weekend program under graduate students for two semester.
2. Assigning Instructors for different courses at Regular, Night and Weekend under graduate program students for 2-3 semesters.
3. Make the teaching learning environment conducive for students by providing orientation, information, and necessary guidance.
4. Monitor and evaluate the teaching learning process of first year students admitted at regular, Night and Weekend program.
5. Develop activities that support the quality of education at stream/department/ level.
6. Collect and follow up students` grade from concerned bodies and ready students for next semester registration.
7. Solve problems related to students learning, grade, out of list or other complains.