Background

The Department of Basic Science was established in 2002 and is one of the pioneering departments of Kombolcha Agricultural College. The very objective of the department is to provide common and supportive courses for other departments in the college. During its establishment, the department comprised of all the common courses to be offered for all departments (courses such as Mathematics, English, Civic and Ethical Education, Basic Computer Skills and Application, Health and Physical Education, Psychology and Pedagogy) and all supportive courses (such as General Business, Cooperative Management, Farm Management and Agricultural Extension).  

The department has been under various developments since its establishment. For instance, the establishment of the Department of Cooperative Organization and Management in the mid 2000s as a full-fledged department had left the Basic Science Department to focus on the major common courses. On a related development, the 2008 affiliation agreement with Wollo University which upgraded the mode of the training to a Bachelor degree level has also provided the department to upgrade its vision, organization, and human resource that cater the education and training required for the level (in offering Communicative English Skills (I and II), Technical Report Writing, Sophomore English [later Basic Writing Skills], Basic Mathematics, Introduction to Statistics,  Civic and Ethical Education and Computer Application & Information Technology).  

Beyond the major classroom instruction, the department has always been engaged in research, community service and other extra-curricular activities. To this effect, various short term trainings have been provided in areas which need further support. In this reagard,

• basic computer skill training have been provided for administrative supportive staff members;
• basic pedagogical methodologies particularly in test preparation and administration have been provided that significantly helped instructors while taking Higher Diploma Program /HDP/
• English Language Improvement Center /ELIC/ have been established which is aimed at improving the communicative competence of both instructors and students.
• Technical assistance in maintaining failed and damaged computers has been extended which contributed largely in minimizing maintenance costs of the college
• Technical assistance has also been provided in managing students’ Internet Laboratory; This assistance involves networking installation and managing its administration across the offices of the college.
• Both instructors and students’ Health Teams have been established and managed by the department’s HPE instructor that contributed largely in creating smooth instructional environment inside the college compound and fostering linkage with the surrounding community outside.

Current Undertakings of the Department of Basic Science

As its name depicts, basic science department offers basic courses for other departments. Along with making all necessary academic preparations, the department is currently engaged in the following remarkable activities:

• Undertaking various researches which are aimed at improving both students’ and instructors’ computer literacy (trainings on basic computer skills, software application, etc)
• Facilitating “ Ecoders” training provided by UDACITY under the Federal Government of Ethiopia, which all the concerned staff members of the college are undertaking currently
• Researching on utilization of “ Blended Teaching /Learning” for the betterment of the education and training of students
• Organizing trainings for all concerned that improve oral presentations and written reports
• Managing and administering the colleges social media platforms
• Designing, managing and administering the colleges’ newly launched website
• Facilitating in-campus sport and pastime activities to create conducive environment that both students and the college community enjoys at its best.
• Researching community services in relation to its members’ professional competence to be extended where deemed necessary