Professor Awdenegest Moges Banjaw is one of the dynamic scholars promoted to full professorship by the governing board of Hawassa university on June 15, 2026.
He is a Professor of Soil and Water Conservation serving at the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Institute of Technology, Hawassa University.
Professor Awdenegest's multidisciplinary academic background integrates engineering, natural resource management, and leadership, enabling him to address complex environmental and agricultural challenges through both scientific and practical approaches.
Prof. Awdenegest's academic experience also spans a wide range of international scholarships blended with local education in Ethiopia. He holds a PhD in Biosystems Engineering from the University College Dublin, Ireland; a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Open University Business School, United Kingdom; a Postgraduate Certificate in Land Drainage from the International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement (IILRI), the Netherlands; a Master of Science (MSc) in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Nairobi, Kenya; and a BSc in Agricultural Engineering from Alemaya College of Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Throughout his distinguished career, Prof. Awdenegest has held several key academic and administrative leadership positions at Hawassa University including being the Founding Director of the Institute of Technology, Founding Dean of the Faculty of Technology, Regional Coordinator of the Ethiopian Management Development Program (EMDP), and Chairman of the Department of Agricultural Engineering. His leadership has contributed significantly to institutional development, academic program expansion, and capacity building in Institute of Technology, Hawassa university.
Prof. Awdenegest has led and participated in numerous nationally and internationally funded research projects focusing on land degradation, climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, soil and water conservation, watershed management, and sustainable livelihoods. Notable projects include ALTER, BREAD, PDPL, RALENTIR, SMILE, and CROSSROADS, supported by organizations such as UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), DFID-NERC, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the Czech Development Agency.
His research combines biophysical and socio-environmental approaches, emphasizing participatory assessment of natural resources, community perceptions of environmental change, and the development of practical solutions for sustainable land management.
Prof. Awdenegest has authored and co-authored more than 75 peer-reviewed journal articles, technical reports, policy briefs, and conference proceedings. He currently serves as a Topical Editor for SOILS, a journal of the European Geosciences Union, and previously served as Associate Editor of the Journal of Science and Development.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to research, innovation, grant acquisition, and academic services, Prof. Awdenegest received multiple awards from Hawassa University as his career reflects a sustained commitment to scientific excellence, environmental sustainability, institutional leadership, and the advancement of higher education and natural resource management in Ethiopia and beyond.
CONGRATULATIONS Professor Awdenegest!