Who We Are 

Rift Valley is the largest private University in Ethiopia. Our 27 campuses are spread out through most regions of the country. We prepare students for work, life and citizenship in a rapidly changing region and interconnected world. 

 

We aspire to be the leading private university for excellence in teaching, research and public engagement in East Africa and beyond by 2025. 

 

Our Mission 

As a leading higher education institution uniquely situated in the centre of the country, RVU is committed to sustaining excellence in teaching, research, and public engagement. We accomplish this by: 

 

• Creating, preserving and disseminating knowledge through robust support of research and publication initiatives. 

• Providing our students with world-class education through a combination of theory and practical experiences that promote life-long learning. 

• Producing competent, versatile and creative graduates who can contribute to the development of society. 

• Enhancing the educational opportunities of our students, faculty and partners by investing in mutually beneficial partnerships with diverse national and international institutions. 

• Recognizing and promoting unity, diversity and inclusivity within RVU and society at large. 

• Contributing to achievement of local, regional and national development priorities by designing and providing community and consultancy services. 

 

Core Values 

The following organizational core values guide every aspect of Rift Valley University: 

• Excellence: We are driven to deliver the highest quality in teaching, research, service and all aspects of institutional life. 

• Integrity: We are committed to upholding transparency, accountability and fairness in all aspects of institutional life. 

• Innovation: We are dedicated to creating and sustaining innovative interdisciplinary programs which can effectively respond to societal challenges. 

• Service: We are committed to instilling the value of service in our students and in the fabric of our institution through service learning and community engagement. 

• Professionalism: Courtesy, respect and discretion guide all of our institutional actions. 

 

RVU at a glance 

Today, more than ever before in human history, the wealth of nations depends on the quality of its population. Global wealth is concentrated less and less in factories, land, tools and machinery and more on the knowledge, skills and resourcefulness of capable human beings. High-quality human capital is developed in high-quality education systems, with tertiary education providing the advanced skills commanding a premium in today’s workforce. Aware of these trends, the Ethiopian Government gives great emphasis to the expansion of higher institution in the country. The government recognizes that the growth of higher education institution is not only the responsibility of the government, but also that of the private sector. It is to share this responsibility that Rift Valley University, formerly Rift Valley College, was founded in 2000. Rift Valley University prepares students for work, life and citizenship in a rapidly growing country and changing world.

 

Rift Valley is the largest private University in Ethiopia, with campuses in most region of the country. The University is founded on the belief that delivering quality education plays a crucial role in boosting the human and economic development of the country. We believe university graduates play leading roles in realizing the goal of becoming a middle income nation in the coming two decades. This direction is believed to alleviate the holds of poverty and free the country from long-prevailing dependency. Consequently, Rift Valley University was conceived with the core values of Excellence, service, integrity, professionalism and innovation parallel with the nation’s developmental goals. As a leading academic institution, the University is tasked with producing competent, ethical and skilled manpower without making any distinction between people of different ethnic, religious, social, economic and political backgrounds. It aspires to serve the country as a whole in equipping graduates with knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in various contexts. 

 

When the first batch of eager students set foot on RVU’s first campus in Adama in October of 2000, they encountered a very different setting from the spacious and forested compound equipped with modern buildings, multiple administrative offices, laboratories, libraries and classrooms that we see today. Rift Valley College began to operate with a capital of 1,300,000 Eth. Birr, a total number of 154 evening program students, and five part-time staff. Prior to launch, demand survey was conducted to identify the fields of study most desired by the community in and around Adama and Asella towns. On the basis of the findings, academic programs commenced at a diploma level in five fields of study, namely Accounting, Computer Science, Law, Marketing Management, and Secretarial Science and Office Management. The Asella satellite campus was launched three months later with Accounting, Law and Marketing Management fields of study. This new "learning community" was housed in just one rented block that consisted of a single administrative office and a few classrooms. By the end of 2000/2001 academic year, total enrolment at the two locations was about 250 students in the five diploma programs of study. 

 

The first accreditation by the Ministry of Education in five diploma level programs of study was earned in 2001 from HERQA and TVET Commissions. In September of 2003 and 2004, Gotera and Batu (Ziway) campuses came into being respectively; Bishoftu campus was launched two years later followed by Dire Dawa and Chiro, which begun to operate in August of 2005. Bole and Gullele campuses came into being in October of 2005. Harar campus was established in October 2006. When the institution was empowered to grant a bachelor’s degree, Accounting, Business Management and Law were the first academic programs on offer at the Adama campus. 

 

Where is Rift Valley University Now? 

Since its inception, the University has continued to grow both in campus size and the range of academic programs it offers. As of the start of the 2015/2016 academic year, RVU currently operates 27 campuses country wide, one campus in Somaliland and seven distance education centers, each with more than a dozen branch coordination units throughout the country. Through these centers, RVU is able to reach students in remote parts of the country and beyond. After conducting a rigorous evaluation of its systems, physical facilities, and learning resources of all of its campuses and faculties, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA), granted Rift Valley the status of a full-fledged University in August of 2014. 

 

Rift Valley University currently offers more than 20 undergraduate and five graduate programs in business, technology, health and social science fields. By 2020, it is projected that the total number of academic programs offered will have reached 90 (75 undergraduate and 15 graduate programs). Additionally, RVU provides dozens of Technical Education and Vocational Training programs at all 

levels. The University aims to also increase the number of TVET programs based on demands for middle-level professionals as identified by TVET commissions of regional States. 

 

As the University expands, excellence in education, research and public engagement remain a focal point. The University prioritizes recruitment of qualified and passionate faculty and staff who engage in teaching as well as in research and publication activities. Annual conferences, hosted by RVU, provide ample opportunities for faculty and staff as well as the general University community and scholars from other institutions to share experience and knowledge on a multitude of issues. 

 

In order to support its services with relevant clinical practices and experiences from the workforce, the University has continued to establish and maintain collaborative partnerships and affiliations with a number of prestigious higher learning and research institutions, health service providers, professional associations, industries, and financial institutions locally and internationally. The University seeks to continue building linkages and collaborative relationships with renowned international higher learning institutions in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. It also actively involves in community outreach activities by unleashing scholarly and material supports to the local, regional and national governments. In the coming years, a key feature of RVU will be its quality relationships with various stakeholders who share the vision and values of the University. These external local and international partnerships will bolster RVU’s growing reputation as an excellent institution of higher education and greatly enhance the educational opportunities of RVU students, faculty and its partners.