The management and students of the Addis Abeba Science & Technology University, one of the 45 public universities in the country, have been at loggerheads with each other since December 03, 2018.

Tensions surfaced soon after the University’s student union presented a set of grievances to the administration. Students raised issues over job opportunities, post-graduate opportunities, practical education in the laboratories and workshops, the competence of lecturers and internship programs.

The students say that upon entry, they were promised that over 90pc of graduates would get job opportunities in industries and over half would be eligible for master’s degrees.

After discussing the matter with five representatives of the students at the University, the management presented its reply in a letter dated December 04, 2018. The letter reads that the University is trying to improve the quality and atmosphere of the learning process by enrolling high scoring students and hiring teachers with a master’s degree or above.

About benefits to the students, the University said that it had arranged for a half a million Birr a year in support from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and has given 66 master's degree opportunities to high scoring students that graduated.

Budget allocation for the internship program was calculated seven years ago when the University was established, thus it needs revision by the Ministry of Science & Higher Education, according to the administration's letter.

Only a few students at the university were satisfied with the response though, leading to only first and fifth year students returning to classes by the end of this week.

The measures forwarded by the university that address post-graduate education opportunities, internship programs and practical education are not satisfactory, according to representatives of the students.