Awareness, Readiness, Commitment and Perception about the Pedagogical Relevance of CBE in Jimma University

Abstract

Jimma University has been practicing Community Based Education(CBE) for decades and is as such referred to as a National Pioneer in Community Based of Higher Education, the main objective of which is to achieve educational relevance to community needs by exposing students to the real world so that they develop team spirit through participation in integrated training, research and service delivery. This study was thus initiated by Jimma University as part of its commitment to improve the execution of CBE, its unique innovative educational approach. The main aim of this study unit was to investigate the state of the pedagogical implementation awareness, readiness, commitment and relevance of CBE in which this report is one of its elements,. To this effect, data were collected via questionnaire and administered to sample students (randomly selected from the class of 2012) and to purposely chosen academic staff members, in-depth interview was held with college/institute deans, CBE coordinators and higher officials of the university, and document review was conducted to see aspects of curricula in terms of the incorporation of key pedagogical features. The study revealed the existence of positive awareness, readiness and commitment from students (rated 72.3% between good and excellent incuisive), staff (rated 88.9% for average and above average) and officers (almost everyone) but yet to be improved to take it to a higher level. It also shows that the pedagogical relevance of CBE is unquestionable and to be encouraged. On the other hand, there are some limitations related to the level of acknowledgement of CBE in the curricula of the various programs of the university assumed to contain 20% of the components. Hence, the University is expected to revise its curricula of all programs in such a way that emphasis on the philosophy (CBE) shall be given due consideration.

Key words: CBE, learning agents, awareness, readiness, commitment, relevance