The Department of English Language and Literature (DELL) was established in 2007 with the establishment of Wollega University. The department aspires to be the center of excellence in producing competent, innovative, dynamic and skilled English as a Foreign Language educators, researchers and proficient English Language communicators locally and internationally. It began teaching English Language and Literature with limited number of lecturers and department resources. However, at present, it is relatively a full-fledged department in Wollega University in terms of man power. By now, it has a well-established English Language Improvement Center (ELIC) and English Language Computer Laboratory which work to improve the English language skills of academic and administrative staffs of the university, secondary and primary school teachers, students and other needy individuals. It has a total of 39 academic staff (25 PhD holders, 6 PhD candidates and 8 M.A holders). Their academic ranks are: one associate professor, 24 assistant professors and 14 lecturers.

Since its establishment, the department has been offering courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students in regular, weekend, evening, summer and distance modalities. In the year 2011, the department expanded its program and launched a postgraduate program in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (M.A in TEFL) in regular, weekend and summer modalities. Four years later (in 2015), the department also launched a PhD program in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in regular modality. Many educators and researchers have been graduated from the postgraduate program of the department, and are playing their roles in building the nation. All the programs of the department aim to produce graduates who can provide professional services at governmental, non-governmental and private sectors both nationally and internationally. At the present (2025), the department is teaching a total of 1,303 students (40 in regular-including one scholar from South Sudan, 327 in evening, 121 in weekend, 606 in summer and 182 in distance) modalities in undergraduate program, and 27 students (23 M.A & 4 PhD) in regular modality in postgraduate program.

In parallel to teaching and learning, the staff actively conducts demand driven and problem solving researches and community services. Besides, the department gives regular trainings on various academic issues out of which English Language improvement training is the major one. There are also regular seminars on basics of research activities and other academic works for the staff and postgraduate students. Finally, as Wollega University is categorized under Universities of Applied Sciences, the department of English Language and Literature has revised its curriculum to align with the concept of applied sciences, and to focus on practice-based teaching and learning.

   Brief Background

The Institute of Languages Study and Journalism (ILSJ) is one of the colleges/faculties/institutes established with the establishment of Wollega University in 2007. The institute came to take its present nomenclature in 2014 following the restructuring and merging of various departments and programs of the University. As part of the comprehensive mission of Wollega University, the Institute of Languages Study and Journalism aspires to be the center of excellence in producing competent, innovative and skilled professionals who are capable of working in the areas of language teaching and learning, media and communication, public relations, culture and heritage, and art and folklore at different levels nationally and internationally. Currently, the institute runs five departments with eight undergraduate programs, four masters programs and three PhD programs. The departments include: English Language and Literature, Afan Oromo and Literature, Journalism and Communication, Amharic Language and Literature and Art and Oromo Folklore. The department of Art and Oromo Folklore has four programs under it namely: Music Arts, Visual Arts, Theatrical Arts and Oromo Folklore. The existing programs within the mentioned departments are: English Language and Literature (BA), Teaching English as a Foreign Language (MA & PhD), Afan Oromo and Literature (BA), Teaching Afan Oromo (MA & PhD), Teaching Mother Tongue (PhD), Oromo Folklore (MA), Amharic and Literature (BA), Teaching Amharic (MA), Music Arts (BA), Visual Arts (BA in sculpture, painting and drawing), and Theatrical Arts (BA). The details are described under each department and program.

The institute delivers the above mentioned programs in different modalities. Almost all the programs are given on regular basis, but some of them involve evening, weekend, summer and distance modalities. The programs with the most modalities are English Language and Literature and Afan Oromo and Literature that run in regular, evening, weekend, summer and distance modalities. Recently, the institute is discharging its responsibility by using 98 academic staffs, 34 administrative workers and 20 contract workers. Regarding the academic staffs, 36 of them are PhD holders while 32 of them are M.A holders. Besides, 20 of them are B.A holders while 10 of them are PhD candidates. The institute has well-furnished smart room, computer laboratories, art gallery and music school to make teaching and learning practical and integrative with recent technology. Recently, the institute, following the direction from the MoE, is carrying out graduate tracer study, program auditing and curriculum review. The institute has strong linkages with primary and secondary schools, other universities and media organizations to create job opportunities for graduates. In addition, the academic staff members have been taking a lot of trainings. Some of these trainings include: e-learning (e-SHE), five million coders program, HDP and ELIC. Community engagement and doing research are other regular activities of the institute. For example, currently, the institute is conducting a national research conference under the theme of "Enhancing Societal System Resilience: Language, Culture, Peace and Development". To discharge its duties and responsibilities, the institute has the following administrative structure:

• Dean of the Institute of Languages Study and Journalism: Teferi Terefe Shone
• Vice Dean of the Institute of Languages Study and Journalism: Teshome Guteta Kitessa
• Community Service, Industry Linkage and Technology Transfer Unit Leader: Gemechis Denu Regassa
• Postgraduate, Undergraduate and CDEP Unit Vice Leader: Mekuria Zewude Bedada
• English Language Improvement Center (ELIC) Coordinator: Ebisa Bekele Abate

The current Dean of the Institute of Languages Study and Journalism, Dr. Teferi Terefe, has emphasized the institute’s core activities and renewed focus. Unlike in previous years, the institute is now making a concerted effort to recover from declining educational quality, aligning its efforts with the university’s mission to become an “ICON OF QUALITY AND RELEVANCE.” As Wollega University is designated as a University of Applied Sciences, significant steps have been taken to make the teaching-learning process more practical and outcome-oriented.

A top priority for the institute is equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in exit examinations. Notably, in the 2023/24 academic year, the institute was recognized among the top-performing academic units, with the Department of Art and Oromo Folklore achieving outstanding results.

Additionally, the institute is preparing to host a national conference this year in collaboration with the College of Social Sciences. Other major initiatives include extensive community engagement, thematic research projects, curriculum auditing and revision, and accreditation efforts—activities aligned with the Ministry of Education’s policy directives and key performance indicators.

In summary, the institute is working diligently to:

• Maintain high-quality, practical, and need-based education,
• Generate institutional income,
• Ensure equality and equity,
• Involve all staff in ongoing capacity-building programs,
• Launch online and hybrid learning systems,
• Promote multidisciplinary research,
• Foster a democratic and collaborative work environment, and
• Design learner-friendly curricula across all departments and programs.

The Department Heads are:

• Department of English Language and Literature: Zerihun Buli Yadeta
• Department of Afaan Oromoo and Literature: Deresa Fekede Wolde
• Department of Ethiopian Language and Literature-Amharic: Belaynesh Deneke Abegaz
• Department of Journalism and Communication: Soresa Segni Dinsa
• Department of Art and Oromo Folklore with three programs: Diriba Mamo Jigsa

A brief summary of each department along with the academic staff profile of the Institute of Languages Study and Journalism is described separately.