Jinka University
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ጂንካ ዩኒቨርሲቲ | |
| Motto | Knowledge for Change! |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | 2015 |
| President | Dr. Yohannes Yitbarek |
Academic staff | 394 [1] |
Administrative staff | 650 [1] |
| Students | 8,000+ [1] |
| Location | Jinka , , Ethiopia 5°46′48″N 36°34′12″E / 5.7800°N 36.5700°E |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | jku.edu.et |
  Location in Ethiopia | |
Jinka University (Amharic: ጂንካ ዩኒቨርሲቲ) is a public university located in Jinka, South Omo Zone, Ethiopia. Established in 2015 under Council of Ministers Regulation No. 353/2015, it is one of Ethiopia's fourth-generation higher education institutions.[2][1]
Campus
The university's main campus is situated in Jinka, approximately 750 km southwest of Addis Ababa.[1] The campus includes academic buildings, laboratories, student residences, libraries, and administrative facilities.[1]
Academics
Jinka University offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across five colleges:[1]
- College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- College of Natural and Computational Sciences
- College of Social Sciences and Humanities
- College of Business and Economics
- College of Health Sciences
As of 2025, the university offers 29 undergraduate and 7 postgraduate programs.[1] Postgraduate fields include Accounting and Finance, Developmental Economics, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, and Social Anthropology.[1]
Administration
The university is led by its current president, Dr. Yohannes Yitbarek.[3]
Research and community engagement
Jinka University emphasizes research that addresses regional challenges and supports sustainable development. Its primary focus areas include biodiversity, agro-industries, livestock and fisheries, and cultural tourism. The university also provides consultancy and knowledge-sharing services that benefit local communities.[4]
In 2020, Jinka University became the host of the South Omo Research Center (SORC), which was previously part of Arba Minch University.[5] SORC promotes the documentation and preservation of indigenous cultures through research, exhibitions, and public education.[6]
The university also participates in the Omo–Turkana Biodiversity Research Center, a collaborative project involving local and international institutions focused on conserving the region's ecological and cultural diversity.[7]
Partnerships and collaborations
The university works with various national and international partners including: