http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2055 2026-04-03T20:23:32Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2460 Title: Psychoactive substances use (Khat, Alcohol and Tobacco) and associated factors among Debre Markos University Students, North- West Ethiopia, 2013 Authors: Tsegay, Girmay Abstract: Use of substances such as alcohol, khat leaves (Catha edulis) and tobacco has become one of the rising major public health and socio- economic problems worldwide. Recent trends indicate that the use of substances have dramatically increased particularly in developing countries. Alcohol, especially in high doses, or when combined with khat or tobacco, continues to claim the lives of many young people. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of psycho-active substance use among undergraduate students in Debre Markos University. Institution based quantitative cross sectional study design is conducted among Debre Markos university students in from 1 -10 may 2013. A sample of 845 students was selected by using multi stage sampling technique. The data was collected by using pre tested anonymous self administered questionnaire and the collected data was cleaned, coded, entered into EPI-DATA version 6 and transferred & analysed using SPSS computer soft ware package version 20. Out of 845 students 800 students participated in the study and make it the response rate 96.6 %. The overall life time and prevalence of psychoactive substance use in the last 12 months among Debre Markos university students was 48.4% and 46.3%, respectively. The prevalence of khat chewing, alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking in the last 12 months was 28.5%, 33.8% and 10%, respectively. A large proportion of the study participants were introduced for khat chewing (60%), alcohol drinking (63%) and cigarette smoking (70%) by their peer friends. The most common reason for khat, alcohol and cigarette using were to keep alert while reading 46.1%, for relaxation 79% and to relief stress 36.6%, respectively. Being male was strongly and positively associated with khat use, drinking alcohol and cigarette smoking [AOR: 3.2, 95%CI: (1.83, 5.32)], [AOR: 2.62, 95%CI: (1.26, 4.32)] and [AOR: 2.6, 95%CI :( 1.17, 5.76)], respectively. Firstly a significant proportion of students use psychoactive substances. Secondly, important variables were identified as predictors for the increased psychoactive substance use. The odds of psychoactive substance use increased with being male, urban residence and peer pressure. Therefore, actions targeting on those predictors are necessary to effectively reduce the use of the psychoactive substance use. 2014-08-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2296 Title: The contribution and challenges of Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) in Ethiopia: The views of instructors and administrators Authors: Tamrat, Wondwosen (Assoc. Prof.) Abstract: Following trends everywhere else in the world, private higher education in Ethiopia has recorded significant growth since its expansion began in the late 1990s. This growth, which reached as high as covering about 17 percent of the total enrollment in the country, has contributed significantly to the development of the sector as well as the country in general. However private higher education institutions in Ethiopia also suffer from different sever challenges. This paper begins by exploring the state of private higher education in Ethiopia, at institutional and system level. It discusses issues such as legal and policy framework, enrollment trends, programs of study, levels of training, mode of delivery, geographic distribution of the institutions, and institutions that have gone out of the market. It then delves in to the contributions private higher education institutions (PHEIs) have made, and are making, and the various challenges they are faced with. Taking the views of instructors and administrators from sample PHEIs, the paper finds out that PHEIs contribute in improving access and equity, playing positive roles in local development and economy, providing models of entrepreneurial culture and reform, and offering operational flexibility and efficiency in the sector. On the other hand the paper identifies the major challenges of PHEIs pertinent to government regulations and support, and issues of legitimacy and funding. Finally, the paper suggests a way forward along with specific recommendations. 2014-08-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2295 Title: Assessment of institutional framework for undertaking research in Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) Authors: Mammo (Asst. Prof.), Wondimeneh Abstract: Scholarly communication is one of the activities of Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs). At the heart of scholarly communication, we can find research. The fact that research helps to maintain quality in the teaching/learning and outreach services of higher learning institutions is well attested. As one of the pillars of HLI, it is expected to become the anchor of especially graduate programs. Graduate programs can have strong foundation when research becomes part and parcel. In fact, in order for the research to flourish and sustain, a strong institutional framework that would assist the smooth running of research activities must be put in place. The institutional framework must provide space to enable institutions to have industry linkage so that research becomes practical and applied and grants could also be secured for research activities of HLI as well. Research funding has a direct impact on the overall quality of programs both at undergraduate and graduate level as well as on outreach services (Jain et al, 2010). Despite these premises, little is known about whether there are enabling institutional frameworks for the undertaking of researches. As mushrooming of PHEIs is a recent phenomenon, there is a knowledge gap from PHEIs side considering the overall research engagements and systems of managing the research efforts as well. Therefore, this research was designed to assess the available institutional framework for undertaking research in PHEIs. While making the assessment, research questions such as “are there available research strategy and policy?”; “are there earmarked budget for undertaking research by staff members?”; “does the senate legislation recognizes research productivity by way of tenure and promotion?”; “does the research strategy stipulate ways of research output disseminations?”; ”are there any established reviewing systems to award a grant?”; “are there any initiatives to establish industrylinkage?”; “what is the role of Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) in strengthening institutional research frameworks?” and “what possible recommendations could be made?” were asked. In order to respond to these questions, qualitative survey, literature review and review of pertinent organizational documents were conducted. Admas University College, Alpha University College, St. Mary’s University and Unity University, based on their research culture and delivery of graduate programs, were targeted for this research. Preliminary findings revealed that the outputs of research are well recognized by considering publications for promotion; there is an earmarked budget for undertaking research for staff members of surveyed institutions; and the focus area used by HERQA to evaluate institutional quality audit has also helped PHEIs to strengthen their institutional research frameworks for the efficient management of their research endeavors. It has also been noted that institutional productivity and visibility in terms of research can be achieved when appropriate framework for the research is put in place. Such frameworks are also important in enabling PHEIs to stay in the scholarly communication cycle in a sustainable manner. 2014-08-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2294 Title: Attitudes of private higher education students towards entrepreneurship: A case of distance learners in Wolaita Sodo and Hossana Towns Authors: Teshome, Temesgen Abstract: In the past, students of higher learning institutions in Ethiopia had guarantee of employment either in the public sector or in private firms. Currently, they are finding it difficult to secure employment in these sectors. Therefore, this study was aimed at exploring self-employment intentions of private higher education students and their attitudes towards entrepreneurship. By using convenience and snowball samplings, the primary data were gathered over a two month period, through the administration of a self-completion questionnaire delivered to 180 final year distance learning students from Business and Economics fields. The survey data were analyzed using SPSS. The good majority of the students agreed by expressing their wish to start business in an ideally considered age level of 31-40 as they would like to be their own boss. They also believed that they have business skills and knowledge, required for business ownership than students who do not want to start business. Nevertheless, the most inhibiting factors for students who did not want to start business are the shortage of initial capital and fear of taking risks. They also considered business ownership as giving them less control over their lives and, therefore, believe it would be easier to work for someone else. Interestingly, 81% of these students expressed their belief that good business support structure would encourage them to start business. Therefore, these findings have implications for academicians, educators in entrepreneurship, policy makers, enterprise support agencies and future young entrepreneurs. 2014-08-01T00:00:00Z