Identified Competency Focus Areas and Core Courses

for National University Exit Examination

Program:
✓ Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering
✓ Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering
✓ Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Power and Control Engineering
✓ Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering
✓ Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering

By: Bisrat Derebssa, PhD, AAU

Wondosen Wubu, AASTU
Endalew Ayenew, PhD, ASTU
Asaye Bekele, Diredawa
Zewdie Ayalew, Debre Berhan University
Tadie Birhan, Bahir Dar University
Tadesse Hailu, ASTU
Sadik Ahmed, Jigjiga University
 August 2022

Addis Ababa Ethiopia

ii
Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1

2. Expected profiles of graduates ................................................................................................ 4

2.1. Basic skills........................................................................................................................ 4

2.2. Engineering knowledge and skill ..................................................................................... 4

2.3. Profiles for streams (focus areas) ..................................................................................... 5

3. Competencies and learning outcomes ..................................................................................... 7

3.1. Core electrical engineering competency .......................................................................... 7

3.2. Knowledge and skill in specialization specific competency ............................................ 7

4. Selected courses to be included in the exam ........................................................................... 9

4.1. Core courses common to all specializations .................................................................... 9

4.2. Specialization specific courses ......................................................................................... 9

5. Categorizing courses into themes ......................................................................................... 12

6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 15

iii
1. Introduction
Electrical and Computer Engineers (ECE) design and implement devices, circuits and systems for
electronic communication, computing, electrical power, control and related applications.
Graduates of the Electrical and Computer Engineering program play key role in the development
of the country.

The ECE curriculum focuses on broad-based training to provide flexibility of career choices and
focused training to provide competence in particular electrical engineering profession. It finds
balance between breadth and depth to provide a solid foundation in the basic engineering,
mathematics, electrical engineering on one hand, and comprehensive training in humanities and
management on the other.

• The freshman courses are developed nationally by MoE.

• In the third semester students will join the pre-engineering program.
• In the four consecutive semesters, after pre-engineering, all the students take courses
mainly in the core electrical engineering module.
• In the final three semesters, students are given the opportunity to focus on one of the five
areas, namely communication engineering, electrical power engineering, computer
engineering, industrial control engineering and microelectronics engineering.

In Ethiopia Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), in general, and the engineering education in
particular, have embarked on major reform since the last decade. Notable in this regard is the
capability building in the Engineering Capacity Building Program (ECBP) program, which was
initiated in 2006.

Since 2012, the Ministry of Education (MoE) through one of its wings, Higher Education Strategic
Center (HESC), has initiated to have modularized curricula in all programs in HEIs and to
harmonize a program among institutes offering the same program.

As of 2014 the Ministry of Education has planned to implement university exit exam to start from
2015 E.C. As part of this effort, this document was prepared during the workshop prepared by
MoE between July 18 – 19, 2022 in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. The draft document was then validated in
a national workshop organized on August 09-10, 2022 at Addis Ababa Institute of Technology,

1
Addis Ababa University. This document outlines competencies and courses that can evaluate the
student in key skills and knowledge upon completion of the program.

To come up with the electrical and computer engineering competency and course list for university
exit examination, key graduate profiles of electrical and computer engineers were first selected
from relevant curriculum. Based on the identified graduate profiles, competency and learning
outcomes were identified. After this, courses were selected that can evaluate the identified
competency and learning outcomes. And finally, the courses were categorized into themes.

1.1. Objectives of the Exit Examination

The national public administration exit exam shall have the following objectives

• To produce skilled and competent manpower to national and international market

• Assessing students’ educational achievement in major areas of public administration
and development management (PADM)
• Ensuring whether the graduation profile of PADM curriculum have achieved at least
common standards of knowledge and practical skills
• Improving public trust and confidence in public administration activities of
professionals
• Facilitating the efforts of students to revise the core learning outcomes of the courses
covered by the exit examination
• Ensuring all graduates from HEIs satisfy the requirements of the labor market and
employability through the national wide implementation of competency-based exit
exam
• Creating competitive spirit among PADM departments in Ethiopia with the vies to
encouraging them to give due attention to the national standards

1.2. Significance of the Document

It is important to set competency areas of the subject matter (program) in order to measure the how
much graduates are acquired with skills, knowledge and attitudes. The following shows us the
significance or setting competencies and identifying core courses of the program;

2
• To set competencies that helps to assess the basic skills, knowledge and attitude of
graduating students;
• To systematically identify the core courses which will be included the exit exam;

3
2. Expected profiles of graduates
Electrical and Computer Engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the technology
of electricity and electronics, especially the design and application of electronic circuit, equipment
for power generation and distribution, machine control, communications and computer hardware
and software. Graduates of this program are required to have the necessary competency to
undertake these activities. The knowledge and skills expected are divided into basic skills,
engineering knowledge and skills and specialization specific knowledge.

2.1. Basic skills

These represent the basic skills required for any graduate to work in a professional environment.
Some of these skills are the following.

• Able to understand the state of art techniques, devices, software, protocols.

• Proceeding in methodical approach to solve problems.
• Working independently, assuming responsibility.
• Communicate effectively, in both written and orally, on complex electrical and computer
engineering activities with a variety of audiences.
• Being a team member communicative, cooperative and transparent.
• Managing projects, productions, manpower and resources cost effectively.
• Recognize the personal, national and global needs for in the broadest context of
technological dynamism.

2.2. Engineering knowledge and skill

These represent the engineering knowledge and skills required for any electrical and computer
engineering graduate. Some of these skills are the following.

• Fundamental knowledge in engineering mathematics.

• Fundamental knowledge in physics, EM fields, semiconductors.
• Knowledge in electrical machines, electronic analogue and digital circuits, signal &
system, measurements, control, microprocessor and communication.
• Design solutions for complex engineering problems and systems considering for public,
health, safety, cultural, societal and environmental considerations.

4
 • Conduct experiments, analyze and interpret results.
• Create, select and apply appropriate techniques, resources and modern engineering and
ICT tools to complex electrical and computer engineering problems.
• Knowledge in computer hardware and software.

2.3. Profiles for streams (thematic areas)

The following streams (focus areas) of Electrical and Computer Engineering are identified as
very important for development of the country. A student selects one of these streams at later
stage of his/her study and specializes in the area.

2.3.1. Communication engineer

• Analyze, design and implement modern communication equipment and systems.
• Manage and upgrade communication/telecommunication industries.

2.3.2. Electrical power engineer

• Analyze and design electric power systems.
• Participate in the assessment and development of renewable energy technologies for the
national grid expansion as well as rural electrification efforts.
• Analyze and design protection systems for electrical and mechanical systems.

2.3.3. Industrial control engineer

• Analyze, design and implement industrial control equipment and instrumentation.
• Analyze and design microprocessor based control systems and algorithms.

2.3.4. Computer engineer

• Analyze, design and implement computer hardware and software systems and applications.
• Integrating and administering hardware and software systems.

2.3.5. Electronics engineer

• Analyze, design, develop, produce and test electronic systems.

2.3.6. Electronic and Communication engineer

• Analyze, design and implement modern communication equipment and systems.
• Produce and test electronics system for various application.

5
2.3.7. Electrical power and control engineer
• Analyze and design electric power systems.
• Analyze, design and implement industrial control equipment and instrumentation.
• Analyze and design protection systems for electrical and mechanical systems.

6
3. Competencies and learning outcomes
The competencies and learning outcomes envisaged to be evaluated by the university exit exam of
electrical and computer engineering are categorized into core electrical engineering and
specialization specific competencies.

3.1. Core electrical engineering competency

This competency is the heart of the program, which provides foundation for the electrical and
computer engineering. The core learning outcomes are the following.

• Knowledge and skill

o Analyze
▪ Fundamental concepts of signals, systems and electrical and electronic engineering.
▪ Digital logic design and programming.

3.2. Knowledge and skill in specialization specific competency

This competency is specific to the five specializations of the electrical and computer engineering
disciplines. A prospective graduate is expected to have competency of one of the following
specializations.

3.2.1. Communication engineering competency

• To analyze, design and implement modern communication equipment and systems.

3.2.2. Electrical power engineering competency

• To analyze, design and implement electric power systems.

3.2.3. Computer engineering competency

• To analyze, design and implement computer hardware and software systems and
applications.

3.2.4. Industrial control engineering competency

• To analyze, design and implement modern industrial control system, equipment and
instrumentation.

7
3.2.5. Microelectronics engineering competency
• Analyze, design, develop, produce and test electronic systems for various applications.

3.2.6. Electrical power and control engineering competency

• To analyze, design and implement electric power and control systems.

3.2.7. Electronic and Communication engineering competency

• To analyze, design and implement electronic and communication equipment and systems.

8
4. Selected courses to be included in the exam
Electrical and Computer Engineering students take 60 – 65 courses and it is unrealistic to try and
evaluate the student competency of all these courses by just one university exit examination.
Therefore, only 13 courses are selected that can evaluate the competency of the student in key
skills and knowledge that are identified in the competency and learning outcome section. It should
also be noted that the questions from the selected courses should focus on long term knowledge
and transferrable skills by taking into account the open book theme of professional practice. These
courses are selected from core courses that are common to all and specialization (thematic area)
courses.

The specializations (thematic areas) are given at different universities in forms of specialization or
programs. To account for all these specialization and programs, the following specializations have
been identified. A student will take an examination questions from the seven (7) common core
courses and questions from the six (6) courses from student’s thematic area.

4.1. Core courses common to all specializations

The following courses were selected to evaluate the core electrical and computer engineering
competency.

• Fundamental of Electrical Engineering (Circuit) – 5 ECTS

• Computer programming (Introduction to Computing) – 5 ECTS
• Applied Electronics I (Electronic circuit I) – 5 ECTS
• Signals and System Analysis – 5 ECTS
• Digital logic design – 5 ECTS
• Network analysis and synthesis – 5 ECTS
• Entrepreneurship – 4 ECTS

4.2. Specialization specific courses

These courses are specific to each of the five specializations and a prospective graduate is expected
to have competency in one of these five specializations.

9
4.2.1. Computer engineering specialization
• Object oriented programming – 5 ECTS
• Computer architecture and organization – 5 ECTS
• Microcomputers and Interfacing – 5 ECTS
• Data Communication and Computer Networks – 5 ECTS
• Embedded Systems – 5 ECTS
• Data structure – 5

4.2.2. Electrical power engineering specialization

• Introduction to Power Systems – 5 ECTS
• Electrical Machines – 5 ECTS
• Power Electronics – 5 ECTS
• Electrical Installation – 5 ECTS
• Energy Conversion and Rural Electrification – 5 ECTS
• Power System Protection and Control – 5 ECTS

4.2.3. Electronic communication engineering specialization

• Introduction to Communication Systems – 5 ECTS
• Communication systems (Digital communication)– 5 ECTS
• Data Communication and Computer Networks – 5 ECTS
• Telecommunication Networks – 5 ECTS
• Antennas and Radio Wave Propagation – 5 ECTS
• Wireless and Mobile Communication – 5 ECTS

4.2.4. Industrial control engineering specialization

• Introduction to Control Engineering – 5 ECTS
• Introduction to Instrumentation – 5 ECTS
• Electrical Machines – 5 ECTS
• Modern Control Systems – 5 ECTS
• Electrical Installation – 5 ECTS
• Power Electronics and Drives – 5 ECTS

10
4.2.5. Electronics engineering specialization
• Computer architecture and organization – 5 ECTS
• Principles of Electronic Design – 5 ECTS
• Microelectronic Devices and Circuits – 5 ECTS
• Microcomputers and Interfacing – 5 ECTS
• VLSI Design – 5 ECTS
• Integrated circuit technology – 5 ECTS

4.2.6. Electronics and communication engineering (ASTU)

• Introduction to Communication Systems – 5 ECTS
• Communication systems (Digital communication)– 5 ECTS
• Computer architecture and organization - 5
• Antennas and Radio Wave Propagation – 5 ECTS
• Wireless and Mobile Communication – 5 ECTS
• Microcomputers and Interfacing – 5 ECTS

4.2.7. Electrical power and control engineering (ASTU)

• Electrical Machines – 5 ECTS
• Introduction to Power Systems – 5 ECTS
• Electrical design for building – 5 ECTS
• Power System Protection and Control – 5 ECTS
• Introduction to Control Engineering – 5 ECTS
• Process Control fundamental– 5 ECTS

11
5. Categorizing courses into themes
The courses are categorized according to the expected competencies of a prospective graduate of
Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Course name ECTS Knowledge Skill Attitude Theme

Fundamental of Electrical 5 ✓ ✓ Core
Engineering (Circuit)
Computer programming 5 ✓ ✓ ✓ Core
(Introduction to
Computing)
Applied Electronics I 5 ✓ ✓ Core
(Electronic circuit I)
Signals and System 5 ✓ Core
Analysis
Digital logic design 5 ✓ ✓ Core

Network analysis and 5 ✓ ✓ Core

synthesis
Entrepreneurship 4 ✓ ✓ ✓ Core
Object oriented 5 ✓ ✓ Computer
programming Engineering
Computer architecture and 5 ✓ ✓ Computer
organization Engineering
Microcomputers and 5 ✓ ✓ Computer
Interfacing Engineering
Data Communication and 5 ✓ ✓ Computer
Computer Networks Engineering
Embedded Systems 5 ✓ ✓ Computer
Engineering
Data structure 5 ✓ Computer
Engineering

12
Introduction to Power 5 ✓ ✓ Power
Systems Engineering
Electrical Machines 5 ✓ ✓ ✓ Power
Engineering
Power Electronics 5 ✓ ✓ Power
Engineering
Electrical Installation 5 ✓ ✓ ✓ Power
Engineering
Energy Conversion and 5 ✓ ✓ ✓ Power
Rural Electrification Engineering
Power System Protection 5 ✓ ✓ ✓ Power
and Control Engineering
Introduction to 5 ✓ ✓ Communication
Communication Systems Engineering
Communication systems 5 ✓ ✓ Communication
(Digital communication) Engineering
Telecommunication 5 ✓ ✓ ✓ Communication
Networks Engineering
Antennas and Radio Wave 5 ✓ ✓ Communication
Propagation Engineering
Wireless and Mobile 5 ✓ ✓ Communication
Communication Engineering
Introduction to Control 5 ✓ ✓ Control
Engineering Engineering
Introduction to 5 ✓ ✓ Control
Instrumentation Engineering
Modern Control Systems 5 ✓ ✓ Control
Engineering
Power Electronics and 5 ✓ ✓ Power
Drives Engineering

13
Principles of Electronic 5 ✓ ✓ Electronics
Design Engineering
Microelectronic Devices 5 ✓ ✓ Electronics
and Circuits Engineering
VLSI Design 5 ✓ ✓ Electronics
Engineering
Integrated circuit 5 ✓ ✓ Electronics
technology Engineering
Electrical design for 5 ✓ ✓ ✓ Power
building Engineering
Process Control 5 ✓ ✓ Control
fundamental Engineering

14
6. Conclusion
In conclusion, based on identified graduate profiles, competencies and learning outcomes 13
courses were selected to evaluate the competency of Electrical and Computer Engineering
graduates. This draft competencies and list of courses for university exit exam for electrical and
computer engineering should be reviewed and discussed with all the other universities and
stakeholders.

The list of courses may be updated based on curriculum revision if there is an addition or removal
of courses from the identified set of courses.

For successful competency evaluation of the students the following key points should be taken
into account.

• The examination questions should focus on key knowledge of each specific course instead
of detailed assessment that has already been undertaken in their course work.
• The examination questions should focus on long-term knowledge and transferrable skill.
• It should also take into account the student ECTS load during graduation time.
• The timing and administration of the competency examination should not be a hindrance
for timely graduation.

15