Overview

History of the Department of Statistics

In the late 1950’s as the duties and responsibilities of the central government began to expand and especially as the Ethiopian Government started to prepare a series of five year development plans, the need to collect, summarize and analyze empirical data became obvious. The shortage of junior (certificate), medium (diploma) and senior (degree) level professionals in the field of statistics became more acute. This was also true for the rest of the continent. To alleviate this shortage, based on the recommendations of the first African Statisticians Conference held in 1959, the UN established “International Statistical Training Centers” on regional basis. The training center for the East African Region was opened in 1961 in the Faculty of Science of the former Haile Sellassie I University. This center was named “UN International Statistical Training Center”. It used to provide a one-year programme leading to a certificate for candidates sponsored by different governments of this region. It operated from 1961 to 1966 and fund and technical assistance were provided by UN. During this period the enrollment from Ethiopia, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Malawi, Zambia, Basutoland, and Somalia were 52, 24, 6, 34, 10, 4, 3, and 4 respectively.

In 1966, to alleviate the shortage of medium and high level statisticians the UN helped in the establishment of additional two programmes: a three year diploma programme and a four year degree programme. The first intakes of the degree and diploma programmes were the freshman class of 1966. Besides the regular programme, Certificate and diploma programmes were also introduced in the extension Division.

One of the most interesting features of these programmes was their flexibility. Students who performed well in the certificate programme could continue into the diploma programme without wasting credits or time. The same was also true for transfer from Diploma into Degree programme. The reverse was also true i.e., students who performed poorly were advised to join a lower level programme. In 1973, the Statistical Training Center was organized as the Department of Statistics and it has been running the degree programme for regular students and the Diploma Programme for extension students since then. In 1974 the certificate programme was terminated in both the regular and the extension divisions. In 1975 the diploma programme was confined to the extension division only.

In 1982/83, an M.Sc, programme in statistics was launched. The program currently has Applied Statistics and Bio-Statistics streams. 

Beginning 2002/3 the duration of the B.Sc degree program was made three years following change in government education policy.

Objectives of the Department 

• To train statisticians at the B.Sc and M.Sc levels who will be able to take-up positions in the public and private sectors and provide professional support for orderly development of the country.
• To carry out research in theoretical and applied statistics
• To provide consultancy services and run short term courses in statistics and related fields.
• To participate and play an active role in the activities of professional statistical and related societies.

Programs of the Department

The Department offers

1. a major leading to

• a B.Sc degree in Statistics
• an  M.Sc degree in applied statistics
• an M.Sc degree in Bio-statistics.

2. service courses to various Faculties and Departments of AAU