Overview

The Center for Regional and Local Development Studies was established in 1996 with one MA program. Currently, the center is running three Master’s programs and one PhD program. These master’s programs are Regional and Local Development Studies (RLDS), Urban Development and Livelihood (UDL), and Urban Land Administration and Management (ULAM). The PhD program is in Urban, Regional, and Local Development Studies. The major objective of the center is to strengthen the capacities of the university in the service of the country by setting up a multi-disciplinary pole of excellence in urban and regional development through promoting applied research and training future academics of the Ethiopian university system. The major reasons for establishing this center are the following:

• There has been a shortage of well-qualified urban development planners who can address the urban problems of the country,
• There is a need to produce qualified experts in the areas of urban and regional development to   teach in regional universities,
• There was a scarcity of adequate applied research publications on urban and regional issues that could be used as policymaking input, and
• There is a need to offer consultancy services to governmental and non-governmental organizations in the areas of urban and regional development.

Vision

The center has a vision of being among the best three institutions in regional and urban areas in Africa by 2030.

Mission

• It is to produce high-level professionals who will provide training and guidance in higher education institutions in the field, as well as to produce well-trained and qualified development specialists who will work in a variety of capacities in regional, local, and urban areas.
• To conduct policy-relevant research, and conduct consultancy services for governmental and non-governmental organizations that work in regional and urban areas.