debre berhan university

What debre berhan university does

Debre Berhan University (DBU) is a public higher education institution in Ethiopia, established in 2007 by Council of Ministers decree no. 61/1999 E.C. and headquartered in Debre Berhan, Amhara. The university operates a multi-campus model comprising a main campus, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Mehal-Meda Campus focused on highland agriculture and tourism research, and Hakim Gizaw Memorial Teaching Hospital; a fourth Minilik II Technology Institute is currently under construction. Since 2020, DBU has been differentiated as an Applied Science University, offering Bachelor, Master, and PhD programs across 10 colleges (Health Sciences, Agriculture and Natural Resource, Natural and Computational Science, Social Sciences and Humanities, Engineering, Business and Economics, Computing, Education, and Law) with 50+ programs, enrolling approximately 10,600 students supported by 1,425 academic staff. The STEM Center, established in 2013 E.C., provides dedicated Virtual Reality and Electronics laboratories and has trained more than 3,500 beneficiaries in robotics, coding, AI, electronics, and space science. The university's community engagement directorate has reached more than 100,000 beneficiaries through legal aid centers, agricultural extension, and renewable energy initiatives.

DBU's revenue model combines government-mandated tuition (with private intake capped at 5% of program intake), continuing and distance education fees, research grants from national and international partners, and fee-for-service consultancy. Distribution is primarily through the Ministry of Education national placement system for regular undergraduates, supplemented by direct admissions for fee-paying private applicants, evening and summer-in-service programs for working adults, and online/distance learning. The Industry Linkage and Technology Transfer (ILTT) Directorate operates four offices (Technology Innovation Incubation and Transfer, University-Industry Linkage, STEM Center, and Students Career Development Center) to operationalize industry-academia collaboration. Internal platforms such as SIMS, the Student Portal, Digital Library, Institutional Repository, and DBU Journals, alongside the recently launched CBE-powered Online Payment System, support academic administration.

The university's customer base is diversified across undergraduate and graduate students, working adult learners, research and industry partners, and surrounding communities. Recent strategic activity has centered on digital and applied-science capacity building: a 2025-07 MoU with Ethiopian IT Park for cloud infrastructure training, a 2025-09 Green Mobility MoU with the Ministry of Transport and Adama Science and Technology University, the 2025-09 launch of the CBE online payment platform, and a 2026-07 Digital Skills Training Program with DEMERA targeting 2,000 students in cloud, cybersecurity, AI, and Microsoft Azure/365. International academic partnerships span institutions in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, supporting exchange and applied-research collaboration.

Name

debre berhan university

Legal name

Debre Berhan University

Website

https://dbu.edu.et

Company type

Public

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Public Ethiopian university offering applied-science undergraduate and graduate programs across 10 colleges to roughly 10,600 students, supported by multiple campuses, a teaching hospital, and active industry and international research partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Applied science research
• Community engagement
• Distance learning
• Technology transfer

Headquarters

HQ city

Debre Birhan

HQ country

Ethiopia

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate programs including regular, private, and extension students. Private intake is limited to max 5% of program intake.
2. Research Grants and Projects: Funding from collaborative research projects with national and international partners.
3. Community Service and Consultancy: Fee-for-service training, consultancy, and technical support rendered to external organizations and communities.
4. Continuing and Distance Education: Revenue from evening, summer-in-service, distance, correspondence and online learning programs for working adults.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Debre Berhan University is a public higher education institution that delivers applied science undergraduate and graduate degree programs across 10 colleges, alongside problem-solving research, technology transfer, and community engagement services. Operating from multiple campuses in Ethiopia, it serves approximately 10,600 students with 1,425 academic staff and supports continuing and distance education programs for working adults.

Product overview

Debre Berhan University (DBU) is a public higher education institution established in 2007 and differentiated as an Applied Science University since 2020. The university operates as a multi-campus institution with a main campus in Debre Berhan, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, and Mehal-Meda Campus. DBU's core offerings include: Academic Programs across 10 colleges (Health Sciences, Agriculture, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering, Business & Economics, Computing, Education, and Law) offering undergraduate and graduate degrees; Research and Technology Transfer through dedicated directorates and multiple specialized research centers (Ankober Botanical Garden, Livestock Research, Soil Research, STEM Center, Technology Transfer, etc.); Community Engagement Services including practical engagement centers and free legal aid; Continuing and Distance Education for working adults; and Specialized services including the STEM Center with Virtual Reality and Electronics laboratories, Hakim Gizaw Memorial Teaching Hospital, Digital Library, and Online Payment System. The university recently launched digital skills training programs in partnership with DEMERA covering cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Programs Undergraduate and graduate degree programs across 10 colleges including Health Sciences, Agriculture, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering, Business & Economics, Computing, Education, and Law, with job-oriented applied science curriculum.
• Distance and Continuing Education Program (DCEP) Evening, summer-in-service, distance, correspondence, and online learning programs designed for working adults seeking continuing and distance education opportunities.
• Community Engagement Services Knowledge-based community services including free legal aid, agricultural extension, health information, ecotourism, renewable energy, and practical engagement programs for surrounding communities.
• Research and Technology Transfer Services Problem-solving research and technology transfer activities delivered through the ILTT Directorate, supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and university-industry collaboration across multiple research centers.
• STEM Center Programs Specialized STEM training programs in robotics, coding, artificial intelligence, electronics, space science, community innovation projects, and capacity building for science teachers with dedicated VR and Electronics laboratories.
• Hakim Gizaw Memorial Teaching Hospital Modern technology-enabled teaching hospital providing medical training for students and patient treatment services to the community, operated under the Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus.
• Digital Skills Training Program Digital skills training program for College of Computing and Engineering students covering cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and modern workplace technologies including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Data Science, and Microsoft 365.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ community members benefited from knowledge-based community service initiatives
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and minor.

• DEMERA (Digital Enlightenment for Modern Ethiopia: Reforms and Aspirations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to launch Digital Skills Training Program for computing and engineering students. DEMERA donated 20 laptops and provides training in cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI, Microsoft Azure, Data Science, and Microsoft 365. Plans to train 2,000 students over three years.
• Women in Self Employment (WISE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral agreement focusing on women and youth leadership, development, institutional and strategic collaborations, livelihood and economic empowerment, and women protection. DBU is a member of WISE steering committee.
• Ethiopian IT ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic MoU signed to establish cloud computing infrastructure and server operations training programs. Partnership aims to develop Ethiopia's digital infrastructure and create skilled workforce in technology sector.
• DEMERAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership formalized through MoU to enhance students' digital and information technology skills. Includes laptop donations and access to digital learning platforms.
• Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch online payment system for all university services, supporting digital transformation of university operations.
• Ministry of Transport and LogisticsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for green mobility collaboration focusing on electric vehicles, including vehicle standards, infrastructure development, battery management, and human capital development.
• Adama Science and Technology UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in green mobility research including battery management, infrastructure expansion, and joint training programs.
• U.S. Embassy and Ministry of EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkshop participation on strategic internationalization for higher education institutions. DBU was among 15 universities selected, including 5 from 2nd generation and 3 from University of Applied Sciences.
• Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for academic exchange and collaboration.
• University of South AfricaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for academic exchange and collaboration.
• Hubei UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for academic exchange and collaboration.
• Dalarna University (Sweden)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for academic exchange and collaboration.
• Aalborg University (Denmark)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for academic exchange and collaboration.
• Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) (Germany)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for academic exchange and collaboration.
• Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences (Germany)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for academic exchange and collaboration.
• Université Paris 8 (France)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for academic exchange and collaboration.
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (USA)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for academic exchange and collaboration.
• The University of Arizona (USA)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for academic exchange and collaboration.
• Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration in health sciences and medical research.
• The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration in livestock and agricultural research.
• Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) - EthiopiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for entrepreneurship development and startup incubation support.
• The Industrial Parks Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for industry linkage and technology transfer initiatives.
• Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration in biodiversity and environmental conservation.
• Space Science and Geospatial InstituteregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for space science research and geospatial technology development.
• Ethiopian Conformity Assessment (ECAE)minorOthersStandards and conformity assessment collaboration.
• Ethiopian IT ParkcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology ecosystem partnership for IT innovation and digital transformation.
• CDT-Africa, EthiopiaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and development collaboration in science and technology.
• Right To PlayregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO partnership for education and development programs.
• WeForestregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental sustainability and reforestation partnership.
• CultivAid (Israel)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural development and technology transfer partnership.
• Embassy of France in Ethiopia and African UnionregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiplomatic and cultural partnership for academic exchange.
• KLE AcademyregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic exchange and collaboration partnership.
• BLDE Association AVSregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural and veterinary sciences collaboration.
• Rajiv Gandhi UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership.
• Debre Birhan Agricultural Research CenterregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural research and development collaboration.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about debre berhan university