SMU’s Strategic Plan
The First Strategic Plan (2007/08 - 2011/12)
Objective of SMU Strategic Planning
The objective of preparing this strategic planning document is to develop a five-year (2007/08 to 2011/12), forward-looking plan that will serve SMU as a guide.Vision
The Vision of St. Mary’s University is to become among the leading higher education centers of academic excellence in teaching-learning, research, publications and community services, and contribute to Ethiopia’s development.
Mission
The Mission of St. Mary’s University is to offer regular, extension, and distance education accessible to the society at large with reasonable tuition and scholarships, and with optimal focus on quality and standards in teaching, research and services.
Goals
SMU aims at offering quality higher education, training, services and conducting research and publications that meet and exceed the requirements of students and stakeholders enhancing sustained and mutually beneficial relationships.
Core values
Belief in and Commitment to:
a) Excellence (individual, team and organizational) in undertaking teaching, research and community services;
b) Integrity while performing duties, exercising rights, learning from mistakes and good practices of oneself and others;
c) Positive Thinking towards the achievability of SMU’s vision, mission, departmental and institutional goals and specific course objectives;
d) Maintaining Quality and Standards by putting in place and observing pertinent quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms;
e) Team Work and Team Spirit among members of the academic staff, support staff and students;
f) Transparency, Trustworthiness and Accountability in the performance of all tasks, goals and objectives of the University and responsiveness to feedback, peer review, monitoring, evaluation and sustained personal and institutional development towards excellence.
Policy Framework
The Transitional Government Education and Training Policy (April 1994) states that “The government will create the necessary conditions to encourage and give support to private investors to open schools and establish various educational and training institutions”. Subsequent to the Proclamation, the Education Sector Strategy was formulated in September 1994 with the objective of “increasing the financing of education by encouraging community participation, introducing cost-sharing mechanisms, involving the private sector in the provision of education.”
The 1997 E.C. Education Statistics Annual Abstract of MoE shows that the overall student population attending undergraduate programs at a national level up until the end of 1997 E.C was 46,574. This figure attests that PHEIs have embraced more than half of the student population in the diploma programs. PHEIs also enroll 22% of the degree program students at a national level.However, the actual number of degree and diploma program students in PHEIs is greater than what is presented in the Annual Abstract of MoE owing to the fact that official records at MoE do not include figures that have not been reported.
