St. Mary’s University (SMU)

St. Mary’s University (SMU)

St. Mary’s University (SMU) evolved from St. Mary’s Language School, which started operation in 1991, and, as a college, it was established in 1998 with campuses in Addis Ababa and Hawassa. Upon establishment, the College had its Head Office in Hawassa, which moved to Addis Ababa in 1999. Showing noticeable growth through time and after the rigorous evaluation by the Ethiopian Relevance and Quality Agency, it was awarded a university status in 2013— an exclusive club of only 5 private universities among over 300 private higher learning institutions in the country.

Vision and Mission

The Vision of St. Mary’s University is to become among the leading higher education centers of academic excellence in teaching-learning, research, publications and community services in East-Africa and contribute to the development of Ethiopia. The Mission of St. Mary’s University is to offer conventional and distance education that is accessible to the larger society through reasonable tuition focusing on quality and standards in teaching, research and outreach services. 

Sustainable Development 

The university has also established the Center for Law in Sustainable Development (CLiSD) in August 2010, which aligns with its vision and mission and positively contributes towards it. 

The specific significance and impact of CLiSD is the enhancement of awareness on the interdependence between laws, institutions, governance and sustainable development. It focuses on research and publications on comparative analysis and application of laws that are related with the economic, social, environmental and the institutional aspects of sustainable development that will positively contribute towards social wellbeing. 

Find out more about the Center for Law in Sustainable Development.