The Research Centers Coordinator Office is a strategic unit within Werabe University’s Research, Publication, and Extension Directorate (RPED). It is responsible for the development, coordination, and performance monitoring of all research centers across the university. This office plays a pivotal role in translating national research priorities into institutional practice, ensuring that each center contributes meaningfully to Werabe University’s mission of ethical, innovative, and impact-driven thematic research.

Working in close collaboration with colleges, schools, institutes, and departments, the office aligns center activities with:

Ø Werabe University’s designation as a Center of Excellence,

Ø Ethiopia’s national development agenda, and

Ø The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It supports both established and emerging centers, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and thematic relevance across academic units. Currently, the office works intensively with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, where most centers are housed due to their alignment with national agricultural priorities. It also supports promising initiatives within the College of Natural Sciences and Computational Studies, including research on traditional medicine, botanical gardens, and integrated poultry and fish farming systems.

As part of RPED’s strategic mandate, the office ensures that all research centers are required to meet both local and international standards. In this connection, it collaborates with relevant university units to continuously improve the quality of research infrastructure and facilities under its purview.

 Werabe University Agricultural Research Centers (WUARC)

The Werabe University Agricultural Research Centers (WUARC) operate under the strategic guidance of the Research Centers Coordinator Office within RPED. These centers serve as institutional platforms for advancing agricultural innovation, sustainability, and rural development in the Siltie Zone and beyond. WUARC is committed to demand-driven, rigorous research that enhances crop and livestock productivity, supports climate-resilient farming systems, and contributes to Ethiopia’s development priorities and the SDGs.

WUARC currently includes two primary centers:

1, Werabe University Main Campus Agricultural Research Center

This center serves as a hub for faculty-led and student-driven research, linking classroom theory to hands-on experimentation. Major initiatives include:

• Commercial Goat Production Farm: Crossbreeding local goats with Boer goats to improve meat quality, growth rate, and adaptability.
• Indigenous Medicinal Plant Botanical Garden: Conserving over 80 species identified in the Siltie Zone, supporting ethnobotanical research and future pharmaceutical development.
• Integrated Fish Farm: Combining aquaculture with poultry and vegetable production for sustainable, zero-waste farming systems.
• Experimental Poultry Hatchery: Improving hatching rates and chick survival through breed trials and feeding experiments.
• Apple Orchard: Evaluating four apple varieties for adaptability and yield in mid-altitude conditions to promote commercial fruit farming.

2. Gerbi Bere Agricultural Research Center

Located in Misrak Siltie District on land granted by the Silti Zone administration, this center expands the university’s research footprint across diverse agro-ecological zones. Current and planned activities include:

·     Experimental Fish Farming: Trials on species selection, breeding, and water management for small-scale aquaculture.

·     Plant Crops Farm: Testing cereals, legumes, and root crops such as chia seed, taro, groundnut, and onion for yield and adaptability.

·     Horticultural Crops Farm: Research on vegetables and fruits including mung bean, cabbage roll, Swiss chard, Brassica carinata, and tomato, focusing on improved cultivation and pest management.

Indigenous Knowledge and Research Center (IKRC)

Established in 2024, under Werabe University's Research, Publication, Ethics, and Dissemination (RPED) Directorate, the Indigenous Knowledge and Research Coordination Center (IKRC) is serving as a central institutional platform for advancing Indigenous Knowledge (IK) across academic, cultural, and community spheres. Its mission is to preserve, promote, and integrate the rich heritage of the Silte people, and the broader Ethiopian traditions into research, education, and innovation.

IKRC is guided by Werabe University’s vision to become one of Ethiopia’s top five comprehensive universities, and its mission to foster inclusive, community-responsive, and knowledge-driven development. In alignment with Ethiopia’s national strategy—led by the Ministry of Education—IKRC contributes to the safeguarding and revitalization of Indigenous Knowledge systems as a foundation for cultural preservation, sustainable development, and innovation.

As part of its national engagement, IKRC actively participates in a Ministry of Education-led project focused on documenting and mobilizing Indigenous Knowledge for development. Through this initiative, the office contributes to the following key objectives:

ü Identifying established Indigenous Knowledge in education, agriculture, environmental protection, natural resource use, conflict resolution, and health care among Ethiopia’s diverse cultural groups

ü Defining local practices in environmental protection and natural resource management

ü Assessing livelihood strategies and coping mechanisms of different cultural communities

ü Documenting traditional conflict resolution tools and strategies

ü Identifying Indigenous health care resources and associated cultural factors

ü Mapping responsibilities, accountabilities, and successes in documenting and applying Indigenous Knowledge, resources, and skills for sustainable development

To support these goals, IKRC works to:

·     Integrating Indigenous Knowledge into seven thematic research areas, alongside a dedicated IK theme

·     Collaborate with the Silti Zone and Central Ethiopia Region Culture and Tourism Bureaus, as well as national and international organizations, to implement joint Indigenous Knowledge (IK) initiatives.

·     Ensure effective integration of Indigenous Knowledge into research thematization across academic and community-focused projects.

·     Support curriculum reform efforts to embed Indigenous Knowledge across diverse academic disciplines and programs.

·     Advance the digital preservation and systematic documentation of traditional practices, resources, and cultural heritage.

·     Major project proposals, including:

 Creative Entrepreneurship and Incubation Center

Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge, Resources, and Good Practices in Siltie Zone, Halaba Zone, and Mareko Special Woreda

IKRC stands as a key driver of Werabe University’s commitment to ethically grounded, culturally relevant, and impact-oriented research and innovation.