Background of the Institute

The Institute of Indigenous Studies (IIS) at Wolaita Sodo University (WSU) was established at the beginning of 2007 E.C with the purpose of studying, preserving and promoting all indigenous languages, cultures, histories and heritages and uses them as the tourism resources. The Institute creates opportunities for all Indigenous languages, cultures, histories and heritages to be intensively researched and published as scholarly articles and books. It is hoped that these publications can advance knowledge and develop the languages, cultures, histories and heritages of all people via scientific process of restoring them back to their original status.

The Institute will organize national and international conferences to share and disseminate the latest research findings of its thematic areas. It also will strive to bring about the standardization of the many indigenous languages and the restoration of all indigenous cultures, histories and heritages. Furthermore, the Institute will strive to promote and globally market the tourism industry of the indigenous people using the overall and rich tourism potentials of the people.

Administratively, being established under the Vice President for Research and Community Services, IIS is mandated to undertake multifaceted researches and provide varieties of community services on Indigenous languages, cultures, history and heritages of the linguistically and culturally diverse people. Its major responsibilities are studying, documenting, preserving and promoting Indigenous languages, cultures, histories and heritages. The Institute also focuses on collecting and documenting oral literature, indigenous knowledge, and indigenous wisdom of the people.

Objectives of the institute

The main objective of the institute is to establish WSU as the world's leading research university in the area of Indigenous languages, cultures, histories and heritages. This will be achieved through preserving the linguistic, cultural and historical aspects of the indigenous people, and through globally-informed scholarship, research excellence, and a mobilizing commitment to social justice of the aforementioned people.

Missions and visions

The mission of institute of Indigenous studies is to promote all Indigenous languages, cultures, histories and heritages and uses them as the tourism resources. It is also mandate to undertake multifaceted researches and provide varieties of community services on indigenous languages, cultures, history and heritages of the linguistically and culturally diverse people.

Institute of Indigenous studies has also a vision to becoming a center of excellence in researching, promoting and preserving the language, culture, history and heritages of the people.

Major Activities of the Institute

The major activities of the institute are to preserve and promote the culture, language, History and heritages of all people through research and community service. The activities in detail include conducting both the research and community service and disseminating the findings to the local, national and international community, providing short term training and offering consultancy services.

Contact

Markos Mathewos Alaro (Assistant professor)

Director, Institute of Indigenous Studies, WSU Email:markos.alaro@wsu.edu.et

Tell: +251913860527 Web: www.wsu.edu.et