Research undertaking is one of the major activities among the main mandates of Hawassa University. Universities are expected to conduct research that contributes to the advancement of knowledge and solves societal problems. The engagement of a university staff in research would also have a positive contribution to the teaching and learning process. 

Academic staffs engage themselves in research work in addition to their teaching and administrative assignments. Those who do research also strive to publish the results of their works and disseminate to the beneficiaries.

A number of research projects are conducted in different colleges and/or faculties of the university in different disciplines including agriculture, forestry and natural resources, health and nutrition, natural sciences, social sciences and education. The research projects include both disciplinary and multi-and/or inter-disciplinary research.

Among the multi-disciplinary projects, the main ones include: Development Oriented Interdisciplinary Thematic Action Research (DOIT-AR) conducted at Wondogenet College of Forestry and the watershed based Operational Research project conducted by Hawassa College of Agriculture.

The operational research project is implemented in Sidama and Gurage zones of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) in collaboration with the Southern Agricultural Research Institute and the Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development of SNNPRS as well as concerned districts in each zone.

A similar action research known as "Ecofarm Project" is being conducted in Adami-Tullu Jiddo Kombolcha district of East Shewa zone, Oromia Regional State in collaboration with Adami-Tullu district office of Agriculture and Rural Development and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) with financial support from Drylands Coordination Group (DCG)-Norway and facilitation of DCG-Ethiopia. 

Our research projects are financially supported by a number of national and international donors. The major national sources of fund for research projects include the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Ethiopian Science and Technology Agency and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research.

International donor organizations such as Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Norwegian Program for Development, Research and Higher Education (NUFU), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Irish Aid, US Agency for International Development (USAID) and European Union (EU) are among the major international sources of finance for our research projects.

We would like to thank the donor organizations for their support in our endeavors. Moreover, many of our research projects are executed in collaboration with different national and international partners. Some of our international partners include Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Langston University, Oklahoma State University, Oregon State University, Colorado State University, University of Otego (New Zealand), Boku University (Austria).

Among our local partners, national universities and research institutes, regional, zonal and district bureaus of Agriculture and Rural Development wherever we conduct our research work and the farming community with whom we do most of our research are our most useful partners.

The staff of the University conduct research in different fields. The outcomes of their research are expected to be published or disseminated. In effect, staff will develop most useful partners.

The University gives due attention to strengthen the extension wing with a view to disseminate useful research results. Moreover, the publication of scientific journals will commence, first by publishing bulletins, and later by publishing journals. This would help the University to bring most of its research results to the attention of the end users and the general public.