10 Undergraduate Programs Receive Official Recognition from Prestigious French Agency HCERES
Jimma University has secured official accreditation from the High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (HCERES), France’s renowned national accreditation agency making it the first institution in Ethiopia to have 10 programs accredited simultaneously. The accreditation follows an intensive evaluation process that began with an exploratory mission in mid‑April, when a team of international experts visited Jimma to conduct on‑site assessments of the selected undergraduate programs.
This prestigious recognition places Jimma University firmly on the global academic map and demonstrates that Ethiopian higher education institutions can deliver world‑class training that produces competent and competitive graduates ready for the international stage. The accreditation details are remarkable, with 9 programs earning the maximum 5‑year accreditation term, while 1 program received 3‑year accreditation with enhanced follow‑up measures to ensure continuous quality improvement.
The accredited programs span major faculties across the university. From the College of Health Sciences, the recognized programs are Anesthesia, Nursing, and Midwifery. The College of Medical Sciences contributes the Medicine program. Under the Institute of Technology, the engineering programs include Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, while the computing and informatics programs comprise Computer Science, Information Technology, and Information Science.
The journey to this historic achievement followed HCERES’s rigorous multi‑stage evaluation protocol. After a preliminary feasibility analysis, an exploratory mission was organized with an on‑site visit by the HCERES project team, during which the exploratory mission could alert the institution if it did not seem ready to commit to the accreditation process. Following this, a formal agreement was drafted and signed between the institution and HCERES. The university then undertook a comprehensive self‑assessment phase prior to any evaluation, after which an external evaluation was led by an expert committee with another on‑site visit. The provisional evaluation report was then sent to the institution, allowing for observations and responses from Jimma University. Finally, the final report was published and the accreditation procedure was initiated at the institution’s request.
The recognition from HCERES, one of Europe’s most respected evaluation agencies, opens doors for Ethiopian graduates to compete confidently in the global job market and pursue advanced opportunities worldwide.
This is not just a certificate it is a promise of world‑class education right here in Ethiopia. Jimma University is beyond proud of its faculty, staff, and students whose dedication made this historic achievement possible, and remains committed to maintaining these international standards and continuing to produce graduates who excel globally. This accreditation signals a transformative moment for higher education in Ethiopia, proving that local institutions can meet and exceed rigorous international standards.
E-mail: ero@ju.edu.et