Individual research projects with focus on respective areas of specialization have been undertaken by the staff at the department. The researches involve political science/international relations thematic areas such as peace, conflict and peace building, development policy and practice, the management and utilization of resources including trans boundary ones, democratization and governance, the making and practice of foreign policy, among others. Most of the outputs of these research undertakings have been published in reputable scientific journals and as book chapters. The staff also regularly gives interviews to Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation and newspapers,holdguest lectures at different higher education institutes and serve in management boards and advisory bodies of various non-governmental organizations. At AAU, some senior staff members have been effectively engaged in middle and higher level administrative tasks like Vice-President for External Relations, Director for Staff Affairs and Director for AAU Press etc.