College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CoHSS)

The College of Humanities & Social Sciences administers courses that nurture the inquisitive spheres of students and as such shape the integrity of science and engineering students so as to help them think independently. The College of Humanities & Social Sciences is composed of one department and four units. These are: the department of technology Management, Social Science Unit, Humanities Unit, Language Unit and Sport Science Unit.

The Department of Technology and Innovation Management

CoHSS is proud to host this department which is the first of its kind in Ethiopia. The department of Technology and Innovation Management was founded with the primary goal of training and producing professionals in the field of innovation and technology management towards building national capabilities for realizing industrialization and competitiveness. It strives for developing human skills and capacity that meet international standards and enables graduates to innovate, adopt, manage, bargain, and transfer the rapidly changing technology into Ethiopian economic contexts and needs. It is an interdisciplinary/convergence program aiming to fill the technology and innovation knowledge gap of engineering and business graduates. The study program also aims at enabling students analyze current innovation trends and future business opportunities to produce competent and knowledgeable professionals who would significantly contribute to the development and transformation of the industry sector in general and the technology and innovation in particular.

Teaching and Learning Activities

The department of Technology and Innovation Management runs postgraduate programs in both Masters and PhD programs in Technology Management. The department is testament to wide ranging engagement of ASTU in collaboration with several international universities. The department is run through the collaboration of professors from Seoul National University (South Korea) and HTW- Berlin University of Applied Science (Germany); among others.

Research Community Services

The main research areas of the department are: technology management, technology market analysis, technology transfer, strategy, innovation, technological disruption and corporate transformation, product development, intellectual property, corporate entrepreneurship, machine learning, etc.

Humanities Unit

The Humanities Unit addresses multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary issues that help the university to attain its missions, vision and objectives as an academic institution. The unit is striving to play a pivotal role in realizing the mission and vision of ASTU, aligning with the university's differentiation and objectives. The unit encompasses Philosophy, Psychology, Civics, Geography and History.

Teaching and Learning Activities

The unit offers various multi-disciplinary courses that improve critical and logical reasoning skills meant to help students acquire the necessary ethical qualities and civic competences while dealing with issues that affect the society at all levels. The unit also strives to enable students realize the psychological phenomena that occur in daily life as well as the practical applications of psychological knowledge.

Research and Community Service:

The unit actively conducts problem-solving research and contributes to community services in areas related to development, governance, peace, security, philosophy, professional ethics, the anthropology of state, Geography and environmental studies, indigenous knowledge cultural phenomenon, psychological treatments, anxiety and stress, law, rules and regulations. The faculty in the unit have conducted a number of ASTU funded research and community services and externally funded consultancy services. Moreover, the unit extends Higher Diploma Program trainings to ASTU staff, enhancing the quality of education in higher institutions. This professional training focuses on academic staff development.

Social Science Unit

The Social Science Unit forms an integral part of the College of Humanities and Social Science encompassing both Business and Economics as well as Educational fields. This unit engages in various key activities that help the University achieve its vision and mission.

Teaching and Learning Activities:

The unit plays a crucial role in imparting essential courses to Engineering and Applied Natural Science students, instilling fundamental business and economics concepts to prepare them for future careers. The areas of competency being offered in the unit include: Strategic management of businesses and organizations, project management, leadership and entrepreneurship skills, among others.

Research and Community Service Activities:

The unit actively conducts problem-solving research, consultancy services and contributes to community services in areas related to Economics, Business, Management, Education and Curriculum. The unit has conducted a number of ASTU funded research and community services and externally funded consultancy services. It offers consultancy and training services to various private and public organizations, along with providing employment exams for different businesses and public entities. The unit offers Higher Diploma Program trainings to ASTU staff, enhancing the quality of education in higher institutions. This professional training focuses on academic staff development.

Language Unit

The Language Unit, under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, engages in various key activities that help the University achieve its vision and mission. The unit is striving to play a pivotal role in realizing the mission and vision of ASTU, aligning with the university's differentiation and objectives.

Teaching and Learning Activities

The unit offers courses to first year and senior engineering and applied natural science students, helping them develop their oral and written communication skills. Moreover, the unit offers business communication training to graduating class students which prepares graduates to improve their communication skills and highlights their key areas of competency during job application

Research and Community Service Activities:

The unit actively conducts problem-solving research and contributes to community services in areas related to: intercultural communication, strategic communication, media, advertising & interpersonal communication skills, public relations, indigenous knowledge transfer, cultural studies, discourse and policy analysis, editing and proofreading, among others.

Sport Science Unit

The Sport Science Unit under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences is a multi-disciplinary field concerned with the understanding and enhancement of human sporting performance. The unit strives to nurture the scientific process used to guide the practice of sport with the ultimate aim of improving sporting performance through the application of scientific methods and principles.

Teaching and Learning Activities

The Sport Science Unit offers courses to the undergraduate students.

Research and Community Service Activities

The Sport Science Unit offers key community service and consultancy services for both the university community and the surrounding communities. Professionals in the unit provide consultancy on food science and health. The unit runs the gymnasium of the university. Moreover, professionals in this unit offer a number of consultancy and coaching services to clubs and health teams.