Overview

The Department of Applied Chemistry at Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU) has evolved from a three-year teacher-training program established in 2007/8 into a four-year Applied Chemistry program in 2012/13, later renamed and revised in 2015/16 to meet growing industry demands. In 2021, the department initiated a major curriculum review to implement Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and align with ABET accreditation standards, involving stakeholder workshops, the definition of Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes, curriculum mapping, the formation of an Industry Advisory Panel, and continuous quality improvement measures. Additionally, the department launched an Industrial Chemistry BSc program in 2020/21, which currently enrolls 91 active students across its second to fourth years, this program, developed by bench marking international universities, also follows ABET-aligned OBE principles to ensure theoretical rigor, practical skills, entrepreneurial training, and global recognition for its graduates.

The Applied Chemistry program launched a dynamic curriculum with the goal of producing competent graduates who can work in both the state-owned and private sectors as academicians and technical professionals. The students are expected to contribute to all branches of applied chemistry by extending the depth and breadth of knowledge focusing in practical applications. Today, researchers with solid understanding of the basics of applied chemistry are in demand in almost all fields of application in science and technology. To further strengthen this, ASTU has initiated the curriculum development process in 2021 to implement outcome-based education. Following this, the university revised its curricula in accordance with ABET accreditation standards. Accordingly, the Applied Chemistry program established a curriculum committee to execute the revision process. External and internal stakeholders in a workshop held at ASTU reviewed the revised curriculum. Considering setting and publishing of program educational objectives (PEO), adapting and publishing student outcomes (SO), mapping of the ASTU’s mission with PEO, PEO with SO, and SO with course learning outcomes (CLO), preparing the courses syllabi. Moreover, the program also involves conducting an industry advisory panel (IAP) and identifying human and physical resources as well collecting course portfolios and evaluating CLOs and interim SOs achievement. For the effectiveness of the program, preparing a readiness review workshop is also conducted.

The Industrial Chemistry program was one of the programs established in the academic year 2020/21 under the School of Applied Natural science, in the Department of Applied Chemistry by accepting 33 UG students for the BSc. Program as the first batch. The program has developed and implemented a four-year structured curriculum for its BSc degree undergraduate program. In the course of the years of the study, the first year is designed for university level common course work and the rest are for major area course works. The program, in addition to offering basic theoretical knowledge; practical core set of skills, techniques, and entrepreneurial skills are designed to include the basic concepts and social sciences concepts. The courses are uniquely selected from basic sciences as well as from major application areas of the discipline allowing the graduate to compete nationally and internationally. The program is aimed at training students in more advanced learning in the areas of industrial chemistry for national and international skilled labor market with internationally accredited degree.

The Industrial Chemistry undergraduate program curriculum was developed following standard procedures and by taking various international universities as benchmark. The program curriculum aims to satisfy the accreditation criteria, which are based on the ideas of outcome-based education (OBE) and continuous quality improvement (CQI). Improving the quality of our programs and getting program accreditation helps to assure the structure and content of a program to meet internationally recognized standards. This will in turn allow international mobility of educated workforce to all over the world. Therefore, this curriculum framework is developed based on the requirements of the ABET accord for applied sciences programs accreditation.

Programs Offered

• BSc in Applied Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry
• MSc in Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Natural Product Chemistry
• PhD in Organic Synthesis, Bio inorganic, Material Chemistry, Natural Product Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry

Research Focus

• ANALYTICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
• MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACEUTICS
• MATERIALS CHEMISTRY
• PHYSICAL AND PHOTOCHEMISTRY
• ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
• NATURAL PRODUCTS, NATURAL MEDICINE, AND BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES
• INORGANIC AND BIOINORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Facilities

Applied Chemistry department has adequate and sophisticated educational resources like different laboratories with necessary instruments and chemicals, class rooms, staffs, Office, textbooks, skilled personal and chemical store rooms. The department has 8 main laboratories out of these four laboratories are certified by Ethiopia Technology Authority (ETA). These are: Advanced instrumental laboratory. UG Analytical and physical Chemistry laboratory, Electroanalytical laboratory. Organic and Inorganic chemistry laboratory, GC-MS and UV-vis laboratory, and Natural product chemistry laboratory

Career Pathways

Applied Chemistry have diverse career pathways. They are qualified to work across the industrial, public, and research sectors, in roles that apply chemical knowledge to solve practical problems. In essence, an Applied Chemistry degree equips you with a versatile skill set that is valued in a wide range of modern industries. The best career path often depends on your personal interests whether you prefer working in a lab, in the field, in a factory, or in a classroom.