Cost Sharing
Cost sharing is considered as a government loan program for higher education students to cover partial cost of teaching and learning. It is applicable to students who have completed their studies or withdrawn from a public higher learning institution. The ratio of shares shall be as follows.
- Beneficiaries expected to bear 100% of their food and boarding expenses/costs and at least 15% of the total direct cost of education.
- Every beneficiary who takes 15 credit hours or more shall pay the full cost of his/her food and boarding expenses and 15% of the total tuition fee calculated for a regular student of his/her department.
- Every beneficiary who takes less than 15 credit hours and above 8 credit hours shall pay the full cost of his/her food and boarding expenses and ¾ of the 15% of the total tuition fee calculated for a regular student of his/her department.
- Every beneficiary who takes less than 9 credit hours and above 5 credit hours shall pay the full cost of his/her food and boarding expenses and ½ of the 15% of the total tuition fee calculated for a regular student of his/her department.
- Every beneficiary who takes less than 6 credit hours shall pay the full cost of his/her food and boarding expenses and ¼ of the 15% of the total tuition fee calculated for a regular student of his/her department. To simplify the process the following policy direction is proposed.
Purpose of the policy
- To attain satisfaction of students who are receiving their cost shares in cash.
- To set guidelines that would enable students to receive quality cost sharing service.
- Ensure reliable and timely cash payment to the student.
Scope
- This policy is formulated for all Addis Ababa University students who are receiving their cost shares in cash
Definition
- “University “means Addis Ababa University.
- “Cost sharing” means a portion of total project of program costs related to a sponsored agreement that is contributed by someone other than the sponsor. Therefore, the real cost-sharing in Ethiopian Higher Education is the 15% tuition fee share of the student. The rest 85% is sponsored by the government.
- “Cost-sharing scheme” means the present cost-sharing scheme of the government or government-sponsored student loan which allows the student to share the tuition fee and requires them to repay the full cost of boarding and meal and 15% of the tuition fee at the time of employment?
- “Eligible Beneficiary” means an Ethiopian studying in a public/government university/college/institute that has the privilege to participate in the available cost-sharing scheme of the government and/or government-sponsored student loan.
- “Form of benefit” means benefit either in cash (full), in kind (full), or partially in cash and partially in kind (e.g. boarding in cash and meal in kind).
- “Government-sponsored student loan” means Loan provided to an eligible beneficiary (who is an Ethiopian and studying in a public/government university/college/institute) for boarding, food and other expenses which are mandatory and will be paid in full by the beneficiary after graduation/employment.
- “In-cash beneficiary” means a beneficiary who receives cash in place of boarding and meal services of the University.
- “In-kind beneficiary” means a beneficiary who receives boarding and meal service from the University.
- “Office” means the current Cost-sharing Coordination Office of the University.
- “Student Cost-sharing service delivery´ means a Student Finance Service Delivery of the University.
Guiding principles
- On-time payment of cash for the students who are not receiving accommodation from the University (within three days after the registration of the student; from 26 -28th days of each month)
- Improving the quality of cost sharing service from time to time
- Creating awareness of the rights and obligations of service-recipients and the obligation /accountability of finance service providers
- Improving participation of students in cost-sharing programs
Policy statement
- Providing efficient and effective cost-sharing service by reducing the time taken to effect payment by 100%.
- Administering cost-sharing service in an excellent and accurate way by using data processing software and/or LAN
- Provision of on-time data to relevant finance offices to facilitate on-time payment (data shall be provided up to the 20th day of each month)
- Ensuring the transparency of cost-sharing services
- Empowering students and encouraging participation of students in the cost-sharing processes
- Updating the cost-sharing amount annually by assessing the market
- Designing compliant handling mechanism
- Creating coordination among concerned departments, offices …etc.
- Redesigning ways of paying out cost-sharing money (once in a semester or once in three months; through bank or other mechanisms)
- Designing ways of opening bank accounts (for students)
- Minimizing/ bureaucratic and documentary efficient work or totally eliminate
Policy authority and interpretation
The president, VP, and Student Affairs process owner are authorized for implementation and interpretation of the policy.
Related policy
Higher Education Proclamation, directives of council of ministers and MOE
Implementation procedure
- Implementation shall be as per directives given from MOE
- As detail procedures prepared by AAU (must be prepared and attached)
- As stated in University rules
Compliants:
Compliance handling office shall be formed at VP’s office or at the office of Students Director office