Jimma University

About

Jimma University is one of Ethiopia's premier higher education institutions, widely recognized for its pioneering community-based education model known as "Education and Training Based on Community Problems." Its strongest and most renowned faculties include the Institute of Health—which houses a major teaching hospital and is celebrated for public health research—as well as robust programs in agriculture, engineering, and business. While most undergraduate degrees are taught in English, the university actively attracts global scholars through specialized master's and doctoral tracks, often conducted in collaboration with international partner universities. The Directorate for International Relations and Partnerships manages incoming international mobility, facilitating academic exchanges and supporting foreign students as they transition to life on campus. A distinctive characteristic of Jimma is its mandatory community-based field attachment program, which places students directly into rural and urban Ethiopian communities to apply their academic training to real-world socio-economic and public health challenges.

Background

Jimma University (JU) is a public research university located in Jimma, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It is recognized as the leading national university, as ranked first by the Federal Ministry of Education for four successive years (2009–2012). The establishment of Jimma university dates back to 1952 when Jimma College of Agriculture was founded. The university got its current name in December 1999 following the amalgamation of Jimma College of Agriculture (founded in 1952) and Jimma Institute of Health Sciences (founded in 1983).

Location

Quick facts

Nearby universities