Administrative and Development Vice President Message

Wollega University (WU) is a public higher education institution established in February 2007 with the mission of producing skilled graduates, generating problem-solving research, and providing community services that promote national and regional development. The University extended its reach by opening Gimbi Campus in 2009 and Shambu Campus in 2010, thereby expanding access to higher education and contributing to local and national transformation. In accordance with the national reform agenda, Wollega University is designated as one of Ethiopia’s Universities of Applied Science and it’s is in a period of dynamic institutional transformation. Guided by a vision to become one of the leading Applied Science Universities in Africa, the University is committed to strengthening its practical education, research, and innovation capacity to address the socio-economic challenges of the country and the continent.
At the core of this mission lies the Office of Administrative and Development Vice President holds a key role in ensuring the University’s operational excellence, sustainability, and developmental progress. The office provides strategic leadership in planning, coordinating, and managing the University’s administrative, financial, and overall operational activities of the institutions. It ensures that all institutional resources—human, material, and financial—are effectively utilized to create an enabling environment for teaching, learning, research, innovation, and community engagements.
The Administrative and Development Vice President office oversees several major directorates and coordination offices that are central to the University’s daily operations and long-term growth. These include the Human Resource Development Directorate, Budget and Finance Directorate, Revenue Generation Coordinator Office, Student Services Dean Office, Manufacturing and Maintenance Team, Transportation and Logistics Coordinator Office, Campus Security Coordinator Office, Procurement and Property Management Directorate, and the General Services Directorate.
Beyond managing administrative efficiency, the office plays a transformative role in the University’s broader development agenda. It leads efforts to modernize systems through digital transformation, promote green campus initiatives, enhance institutional capabilities, and strengthen financial sustainability through innovative revenue-generation mechanisms. The office also works closely with academic and research wings to ensure that administrative structures directly support the University’s applied science mission and academic excellence.
Importantly, Wollega University is open and committed to collaboration with national, regional, and international organizations, including government institutions, development partners, higher education institutions, and private sector actors. Through such partnerships, the University seeks to enhance institutional capacity, share best practices, attract resources, and co-create solutions to real-world challenges. The Office of Administrative and Development Vice President mandated in facilitating and sustaining these collaborations by ensuring that the University’s infrastructure, systems, and management frameworks meet global standards of efficiency and accountability.
Olana Debel (PhD)
Administrative and Development Vice President