የትምህርትና ስልጠና ባለስልጣን

Overview

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Education and Training Authority (Amharic: የትምህርትና ስልጠና ባለስልጣን), commonly referred to as **FDRE‑ETA**, is the national quality assurance and accreditation body for higher education, vocational training and general education in Ethiopia. Formerly known as the Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA), the Authority promotes institutional relevance and academic integrity in public, private, faith-based and foreign education providers.

1) Historical and Legal Framework

FDRE‑ETA traces its origins to the establishment of HERQA in 2003 under the Higher Education Proclamation No. 351/2003, as an autonomous agency accountable to the Ministry of Education. In 2022, the Council of Ministers enacted Regulation No. 515 to expand its scope—transforming HERQA into FDRE‑ETA, with a legal mandate across all levels of education (general, vocational, higher) and authorised to regulate quality, accreditation, authentication and equivalence of qualifications.

Recent directives—including Directive No. 987/2016 for institutional and programme accreditation and new audit frameworks launched in 2025—are part of the legal architecture bolstering FDRE‑ETA’s enforcement authority and sector oversight.

2) Mission, Vision and Objectives – Role in Higher Education

Vision: To be a nationally and internationally recognised authority that ensures educational institutions deliver quality, relevant and credible learning aligned with national development needs.

Mission: To promote excellence in education and training through accreditation, quality assurance and professional licensing across Ethiopia’s education sub‑sectors.

In higher education, FDRE‑ETA seeks to:

• Ensure institutional and programme offerings align with national labour market and social development priorities;
• Provide transparent, objective accreditation decisions that guard against low‑standard or diploma mill operations;
• Support capacity building for internal quality assurance units within universities and colleges;
• Implement the Ethiopian Qualifications Framework (EtQF) to harmonise levels across vocational and academic systems;
• Generate evidence-based analyses, research and benchmarks to guide sector reforms and university innovation.

3) Governance, Structure and Independence

FDRE‑ETA is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Education, with representatives from academia, industry, professional bodies and the Ministry itself. Operational leadership rests with an Executive Secretary heading a Secretariat housed in Addis Ababa.

Although FDRE‑ETA operates under federal legislation and receives budget appropriations, it is structured to function autonomously—holding statutory powers to approve, monitor and revoke institutional registration, independently of day-to-day Ministry control. According to uniRank, it administers programme‑ and institution-level accreditation decisions for a large number of official institutions across the country.

4) Accreditation and Quality Evaluation – Role in Higher Education

FDRE‑ETA delivers a multi-step quality assurance process that includes:

1. Eligibility assessment of new institutions, reviewing governance, facilities, staffing and finances;
2. Provisional licensure for emerging institutions under close monitoring;
3. Full registration and institutional accreditation for institutions operating with effective quality management systems;
4. Programme accreditation for new or high‑risk degree and diploma offerings;
5. Regular audits and thematic evaluations covering governance, student experience and community engagement;
6. Enforcement mechanisms: suspension or revocation of registration for non‑compliance with quality standards.

No institution may launch a programme—academic or vocational—without FDRE‑ETA approval. According to uniRank, the Authority has accredited thousands of programmes and licensed hundreds of institutions since its founding.

5) International Cooperation and Network Memberships

FDRE‑ETA engages in cross-border collaborations and adopts international standards through initiatives such as the African Union’s Pan‑African Quality Assurance and Accreditation Framework (PAQAF) and the EU‑funded HAQAA (Harmonisation, Quality Assurance and Accreditation) programme in Africa. A delegation visited Unisa (South Africa) in 2023 to benchmark institutional quality assurance practices.

The Authority also aligns its accreditation guidelines with UNESCO norms and contributes to formulation and implementation of the Ethiopian Qualifications Framework, promoting comparability across African Qualifications Reference Frameworks.

6) Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

From 2024–2025, FDRE‑ETA is implementing a nationwide quality audit system applicable to all higher education and TVET providers, based on seven thematic areas, fourteen national standards and over one hundred specific guidelines.

These reforms are expected to raise graduate employability by closing gaps between curricula and industry needs, curbing proliferation of unaccredited institutions and strengthening trust in Ethiopian qualifications.

Additionally, the rollout of the EtQF under Authority oversight facilitates integrated pathways, micro‑credentials and recognition of prior learning, which are projected to boost access and enable lifelong learning aligned with national development strategies.

7) Summary

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Education and Training Authority serves as the statutory guardian of educational quality across the country’s entire education and training spectrum. Evolving from the Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency—HERQA—into a wider mandate, FDRE‑ETA now governs accreditation, licensure, audit and equivalence across public and private providers. Through structured governance, legally empowered processes, international cooperation and data-driven reforms, the Authority is central to Ethiopia’s ambition of transforming its higher education system into a globally competitive ecosystem.

8) FAQs

• What is the Education and Training Authority of Ethiopia?
  FDRE‑ETA is Ethiopia’s official accreditation and quality assurance agency for higher education, vocational training and general education. It issues licences, accredits institutions and reviews programmes.
• When was it established?
  The agency was originally established in 2003 as HERQA. In 2022 it was restructured by the Council of Ministers into FDRE‑ETA with broader authority over all education levels.
• How is higher education accredited in Ethiopia?
  Institutions first undergo eligibility assessment, then provisional licensure, followed by full institutional and programme accreditation based on ETA standards. Periodic audits are mandatory.
• Is FDRE‑ETA independent?
  While structurally accountable to the Ministry of Education, the Authority operates with legal autonomy to make accreditation decisions, publish findings and enforce corrective actions independently.
• Can I check if a university is accredited?
  Yes. FDRE‑ETA maintains a public register of accredited institutions and programmes. Students and employers can verify institutional legitimacy via its official website.
• Does it engage internationally?
  Yes. FDRE‑ETA participates in continental and global QA initiatives—including HAQAA and UNESCO frameworks—to benchmark and adopt international best practices.
• What are FDRE‑ETA’s recent reforms?
  Major reforms include the 2025 Quality Audit Directive, integration of the EtQF and inclusion of TVET and general education in national accreditation systems.

Organization Name

የትምህርትና ስልጠና ባለስልጣን

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Education and Training Authority

Acronym

FDRE-ETA

Year of Establishment

2003

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Shiro Meda, In front of America Embassy
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Phone

+251-11-123-22-30

Fax

+251 111 236 127

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

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YouTube

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Instagram

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Wikipedia Article

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