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Background about College of Law and Governance

Background about College of Law and Governance

College of Law and Governance (CLG) is one of the eight colleges in Hawassa University (HU). It has been opened in 2011 GC comprising the former Faculty of Law and Department of Governance and Development Studies, which was organized under the then faculty of Social Sciences. Currently, the college consists of two independent schools and one department; namely, School of Governance and Development Studies, School of Law, and Department of Civics and Ethics Studies. Three of these host various fields of specialization both in Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) programs.

Initially, Law faculty in Hawassa University was established in 2002 GC and renamed School of Law when the current College of Law and Governance structure was formed in 2011 GC. Since its establishment, the school of Law has engaged in teaching, research and community services. Several law professionals were graduated from the school under the regular, summer, weekend, evening and distance education programs. Currently, the school is hosting one Undergraduate program (LLB) and three Postgraduate Programs. Furthermore, the school is widely working on free legal services to support the local community in relation to legal issues. Hawassa University Journal of Law (HUJoL) is also among the outstanding academic engagements of the School.

The School of Governance and Development Studies (GaDS) was opened in Hawassa University by 2007 GC to train students in Bachelor of Arts Degree. At that time, Hawassa University was the first university in Ethiopia to begin the field of study on   Governance and Development Studies (GaDS). As a pioneer of Bachelor of Arts Degree in Governance and Development Studies (GaDS) program in Ethiopia, the school has shared its experience to several universities of the country.  The school has provided education and training on Governance and development studies for numerous professionals working in a range of occupations from different government, non-government and private sectors. The school is currently hosting two Undergraduate and six Postgraduate programs.

In order to expand and better serve the mission of enhancing citizenship and morality aspects of citizens, Department of Civics and Ethical Studies was separately organized under the college since 2018 GC. Currently, there are two bachelors (BA and BED), one MA and one DED (Doctor in Education) programs under the department.  

Between 2015 to 2024, the College of Law and Governance is a leading college for hosting large number of post-graduate students in Hawassa University. Moreover, the college offers three freshman common courses (namely: Logic and Critical Thinking, Moral and Citizenship Education and Global Affairs) across the university for over 5,000 undergraduate students per year. In order to facilitate the teaching-learning, the college of Law and Governance has its own Library, Computer labs and Moot Court Centre.

These days, the college is diligently working to ensure the academic excellence of existing programs and to establish various academic centers that focused on the national priority of diversifying postgraduate programs and researches. Hawassa University Journal of Law (HUJOL) is one of the platforms that generates and disseminates knowledge related to legal issues among the academic communities. To add and diversify this role, “The Ethiopian Journal of Governance and Development” (EJoGaD) launched in 2021 under the School of Governance and Development Studies. 

Contacting Address

  • Tel: +251 46220 49 04
  • Fax: +251462205187
  • E-mail: clg@hu.edu.et
  • Website: www.hu.edu.et/clg/
  • P.O.Box: 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia