Background
The Academy of Ethiopian Languages and Cultures was shaped in a new organizational setup on the 30th of April 2010. But, since its foundation in 1972, it was named and renamed several times with the change of governments in Ethiopia. On its commencement, the research organization was named as the National Academy/Merha-Lissan of Amharic in 1972 and it was set to operate under the auspices of the then Ministry of Education and Fine Arts. In 1975, its first name was changed to the Academy of Ethiopian Languages by the Provisional Military Government and transferred to the newly setup Ministry of Culture and Sports Affairs. Then, the organization was relocated to Addis Ababa University in the middle of 1997 carrying a new name, i.e., Ethiopian Languages Research Institute. However, the university named it “Ethiopian Languages Research Center”. Still, in December 2009, the university upgraded the status of the research organization from “Center” to “Institute” and renamed it “Ethiopian Languages Research Institute”. Finally, in 2010, the university again renamed it as the Academy of Ethiopian Languages and Cultures. In the current administrative structure of Addis Ababa University, the Academy of Ethiopian Languages and Cultures (AELC) is under the Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer (VPR&TT).
Currently, the AELC has four centers. These are:
- Language Studies Center
- Lexicography, Terminology and Translation Center
- Philology Center
- Social and Cultural Studies Center
There are twenty seven (27) academic and five (5) administrative staff in the AELC.
Academic Staff
| No. | Full Name | Sex | Academic Rank | Remark |
| 1 | Wondwosen Tesfaye (PhD) | M | Associate Professor | Former Director, AELC |
| 2 | Mulugeta Seyoum (PhD) | M | Associate Professor | Former Director, AELC |
| 3 | Bayleyegn Tasew (PhD) | M | Assistant Professor | Former Director, AELC |
| 4 | Yohannes Adigeh (PhD) | M | Assistant Professor | Current Director, AELC |
| 5 | Gemechu Kedir (PhD) | M | Assistant Professor | Former Head, Social and Cultural Studies Center |
| 6 | Desta Amare (PhD) | F | Assistant Professor | Current Head, Social and Cultural Studies Center |
| 7 | Teshome Yehualashet (PhD) | M | Assistant Professor | Former Deputy Director, AELC |
| 8 | Gebre Bizuneh (PhD) | M | Assistant Professor | Current Head, Lexicography, Terminology and Translation Center |
| 9 | Abeba Amare (PhD) | F | Assistant Professor | Current Director, Grievance Handling Office, AAU |
| 10 | Sirgiw Gelaw (PhD) | M | Assistant Professor | Current Head, Philology Center |
| 11 | Alemayehu Dogamo (PhD) | M | Assistant Professor | |
| 12 | Tsegay W/Mariam (PhD) | M | Assistant Professor | |
| 13 | Alemayehu Gurmu (PhD) | M | Assistant Professor | Current Head, Language Studies Center |
| 14 | Firehiwot Bayu (PhD) | F | Assistant professor | |
| 15 | Samuel Tibebe (PhD) | M | Assistant professor | Current Deputy Director, AELC |
| 16 | Etaferahu Hailu (PhD) | F | Assistant Professor | |
| 17 | Zinawork Assefa (PhD) | M | Assistant Professor | Managing Editor, Journal of the AELC |
| 18 | Ato Melkeneh Seid | M | Lecturer | Former Head, Language Studies Center |
| 19 | W/ro Rawda Siraj | F | Lecturer | PhD student (final year) |
| 20 | Ato Mesfin Messele | M | Lecturer | |
| 21 | Ato Tadesse Esubalew | M | Lecturer | |
| 22 | Ato Yonas Bekele | M | Lecturer | PhD student (first year) |
| 23 | Ato Abebe Keno | M | Lecturer | PhD student (submitted Dissertation for defense) |
| 24 | W/ro Elizabeth Demisie | F | Lecturer | PhD student (final year) |
| 25 | Ato Shimeles Gizaw | M | Lecturer | |
| 26 | Ato Tsehay Ademe | M | Lecturer | PhD student (second year) |
| 27 | Ato Fikre G/hiwot | M | Lecturer |
Summary
- Two (2): Associate professors (Both with PhD)
- Fifteen (15): Assistant professors (All with PhD)
- Ten (10): Lecturers (All MA degree; five (5) of them are PhD students)
Sex Composition
Male: Twenty one (21)
- Two (2): Associate professors
- Eleven (11): Assistant professor
- Eight (8): Lecturers
Female: Six (6)
- Four (4): Assistant professors
- Two (2): Lecturers
Administrative Staff
| No | Full Name | Degree | Job Position |
| 1 | W/ro Meselu Assefa | BSC, Business Education | Assistant Administrator |
| 2 | W/ro Hiwotie Tadele | BSC, Business Education | Executive Secretery |
| 3 | W/t Selam Tegegn | Diploma, Accounting | Store Keeper |
| 4 | W/t Eyerusalem Altaseb | Diploma, Secretery | Secretery |
| 5 | W/t Genet Berta | Diploma, Accounting | Messenger |
The Academy of Ethiopian Languages and Cultures cherishes and promotes the following seven core values:
- Excellence
- Innovation
- Research freedom
- Responsibility and accountability
- Integrity and honesty
- National unity and inclusiveness
- Community focused
