Awot Haileslassie Gebrekidan

Advisor to the Vice President for Quality Assurance Affairs
Addis Ababa, ET.

About

Highly accomplished and results-driven professional with over a decade of progressive leadership experience in higher education administration, specializing in quality assurance, strategic planning, and curriculum development. Proven ability to drive institutional excellence, enhance academic programs, and ensure compliance with national and international standards, underpinned by a Master's in Business Administration and extensive research in entrepreneurship and organizational innovation. Adept at leveraging data-driven insights and fostering collaborative environments to achieve significant educational and operational improvements.

Work

Admas University
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Advisor to the Vice President for Quality Assurance Affairs

Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Summary

Strategically advises the Vice President on Quality Assurance Affairs, leading policy development, compliance, and performance evaluation initiatives to elevate academic and administrative excellence across the university.

Highlights

Developed and implemented strategic quality assurance frameworks, policies, and plans, ensuring alignment with national standards, educational roadmaps, and institutional objectives.

Ensured university-wide compliance with national and international accreditation requirements, collaborating closely with organizations like the Education and Training Authority (ETA) to maintain institutional credibility.

Directed the application of comprehensive assessment tools and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor administrative and academic excellence, identifying critical improvement opportunities and informing strategic decision-making.

Led in-depth curricular and program assessments, providing expert guidance to enhance program relevance, instructional quality, and student learning outcomes, thereby aligning offerings with labor market demands.

Authored and presented high-impact reports and presentations to stakeholders, effectively communicating quality initiatives, progress, and results to drive continuous improvement projects.

Admas University
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Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications

Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Summary

Directed strategic marketing and corporate communications, overseeing public relations, content creation, and branding initiatives to enhance the university's public image and engagement.

Highlights

Executed the university's strategic Marketing and Corporate Plan, driving initiatives that enhanced institutional visibility and stakeholder engagement.

Managed comprehensive public relations and content creation efforts, developing compelling narratives that amplified the university's mission and achievements.

Oversaw all branding and communication strategies, ensuring consistent messaging across platforms and strengthening the university's market position.

Admas University
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Dean for College of Distance Education

Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Summary

Led the College of Distance Education, overseeing strategic planning, program accreditation, performance evaluation, and curriculum development to ensure high-quality distance learning experiences.

Highlights

Directed strategic planning and policy development for the College of Distance Education, aligning initiatives with university-wide goals and national educational standards.

Monitored and ensured compliance for program accreditation and re-accreditation, successfully navigating regulatory requirements to maintain program integrity.

Oversaw performance management and evaluation of project linkages, implementing metrics to assess effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.

Led comprehensive curricular and program assessments, identifying areas for enhancement and ensuring academic rigor across all distance education offerings.

Facilitated robust communication and reporting with internal and external stakeholders, fostering transparency and collaboration to advance college objectives.

Executed the university's Strategic Development plan within the college, contributing to institutional growth and program expansion.

Spearheaded faculty capacity building and training programs, enhancing pedagogical skills and instructional quality for distance educators.

Managed the end-to-end curriculum revision, development, program audit, and quality assurance processes, ensuring academic excellence and relevance.

Admas University
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Trainer for TVET Programs

Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Summary

Delivered competency-based training sessions for TVET programs, coordinating industry partnerships and supervising student progress to ensure practical skill development and career readiness.

Highlights

Delivered engaging competency-based training sessions and practical demonstration activities to TVET students, fostering skill acquisition and application.

Coordinated effectively with industry representatives to facilitate student internships, bridging academic learning with real-world professional experience.

Monitored and evaluated trainees' progress and academic achievements throughout theoretical and practical sessions, providing targeted support to ensure successful completion.

Supervised comprehensive internship and workplace training programs, guiding students through practical application and professional development.

Admas University
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Head, Department of Curriculum, Material Development, Publication and Distribution

Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Summary

Led the department responsible for curriculum design, material development, publication, and distribution, ensuring high-quality, learner-centered educational resources for distance education programs.

Highlights

Managed the comprehensive design, revision, and contextualization of curriculum for distance education programs, aligning content with educational objectives and learner needs.

Ensured and endorsed the development of high-quality, learner-centered modules and instructional materials, significantly improving the efficacy of distance learning.

Coordinated cross-functional teams of subject matter experts, instructional designers, content editors, reviewers, and instructors to streamline material development and publication processes.

Admas University
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Head, South Region Desk of Distance Education

Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Summary

Managed academic and administrative support services for distance education in the South Region, providing guidance on policies, handling grievances, and facilitating student success through regional collaboration.

Highlights

Managed and oversaw all academic and administrative support services for distance education within the South Region, ensuring efficient operations and service delivery.

Provided expert guidance on academic policies, grievance resolution, and appeals processes, upholding fairness and transparency for students and faculty.

Facilitated comprehensive logistical support for students, covering tutorials, assessments, and graduation processes, enhancing the student experience.

Collaborated effectively with regional coordinators and faculty to ensure seamless program delivery and consistent quality across all distance education initiatives.

Education

Admas University
Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Masters Degree

Business Administration

Grade: CGPA of 3.93/4.00 (Excellent thesis grade)

Debre Markos University
Debre Markos, Gojjam-Ethiopia, Ethiopia

Bachelor of Art Degree

Foreign Language and Literature (English)

Publications

News: Calls for immediate de-escalation and urges for Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA)

Published by

www.africanewschannel.org (Africa News Channel)

Summary

Published a news article advocating for immediate de-escalation and a Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, addressing rising tensions in Ethiopia's Tigray region.

News: Faith and Ethical Communities Unite in Addis Ababa Advocating for Reparative Justice for Africa and Its Descent

Published by

www.africanewschannel.org (Africa News Channel)

Summary

Published a news article on the unity of faith and ethical communities in Addis Ababa advocating for reparative justice for Africa and its descendants.

Beyond Tokenism: Enhancing Social Entrepreneurial Knowledge, Positive Reframing and Action-Oriented Resourcefulness Among Youth in Fragile African Contexts

Published by

Journal of Social Entrepreneurship (Taylor & Francis online)

Summary

Co-authored a publication exploring methods to enhance social entrepreneurial knowledge, positive reframing, and action-oriented resourcefulness among youth in fragile African contexts.

News: Human Rights Defenders at the Forefront: African Dialogue Highlights Urgent Protection Needs Amid Rising Challenges

Published by

www.africanewschannel.org (Africa News Channel)

Summary

Authored a news article highlighting the urgent protection needs of human rights defenders in Africa amidst rising challenges, as discussed in an African Dialogue.

Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intention Among Ethiopian University Graduate Students

Published by

GRIN Publishing

Summary

Authored a study investigating the determinants influencing entrepreneurial intentions among university graduate students in Ethiopia, contributing to understanding factors driving youth entrepreneurship.

Languages

Amharic
Tigrinya
English

Skills

Data Analysis & Research

IBM SPSS, Quantitative Data Analysis, Qualitative Data Analysis, Market Research, Research Methodology, Critical Thinking, Synthesizing Skills.

Communication & Content

Public Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, Content Development, Storytelling, Digital Literacy, Journalistic Literacy, Presentations, Reporting, Canva, Social Media.

Office & Productivity

Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Outlook.

Strategic & Management

Strategic Planning, Policy Development, Quality Assurance, Accreditation Management, Curriculum Development, Program Assessment, Performance Monitoring, Project Linkage Evaluation, Leadership Development, Team Management, Cross-functional Collaboration, Grievance Handling, Process Optimization, KPI Tracking, Institutional Objectives Alignment.

Training & Development

Training of Trainers (ToT), Competency-Based Training, Instructional Design, Capacity Building, Internship Supervision, Workplace Training.