About us

Unity University is the pioneer private higher education institution in Ethiopia. Since its establishment as a Language School in 1991, has made tremendous progress to become the first privately owned university in the country. The University became member of MIDROC Technology Group Companies in 2008, and stayed so up to 2020. Unity University started its long march by delivering certificate programs. Initially, it was established as a language school, offering courses in English, Arabic, Italian and French. Later, that same year, preparatory classes were opened for the then Ethiopian School Leaving Certificate Examination (E.S.L.C.E) in different subjects. Thus, the year 1991 marks the beginning of the first phase in the history of Unity University; a milestone that paved the way for the establishment and subsequent rapid expansion of the University.

In fact, Unity Language School stared with few students and with a handful of part-time teachers and administrative workers. The School, however, grew rapidly over the next three years in many respects. The student population as well as the number of academic and administrative staff increased significantly. The coverage of the School also expanded through the addition of new courses; such as Certificate Program in Basic Law, in February 1993. In 1994, the Certificate Program in Basic Law was upgraded to a Diploma level.

Thus, the second phase that started in 1997 lasted up to 1998, during which time Diploma Programs in Accounting, Marketing, Business, Personnel Administration and Secretarial Science were launched. At this juncture the name “Unity Law, Language and Vocational Institute” became “Unity College”. In the year 1999 the third phase of the University’s development witnessed not only the consolidation of existing Diploma Programs but also a significant expansion in the range of programs offered; starting with the introduction of new undergraduate degree program in Accounting, Management, and Economics.

BSc Degree Program in Management Information System (MIS) and Diploma Program in Journalism and Communication were launched in the year 2000; and additional undergraduate degree programs in Law, Marketing Management, and Computer Technology were made available to regular and extension degree students. In August 2002, “Unity College” was officially renamed “Unity University College”. Thus Unity becomes the first private “University College”. In 2003 a BSc Degree program in Architecture and Urban Planning was introduced. In addition to this, BSc Degree Programs were introduced in Civil Engineering, in Mining, and in Construction Technology Management.

In this same year – 2003 College of Distance Education was established by offering Accounting, Management, Secretarial Science and Office Management, Business Administration, Marketing, Banking and Finance, and Law in Diploma Programs. Consequently, the Diploma Programs in Accounting, Management, Marketing and Economics were upgraded to a Degree Program.

The fourth phase of the development of Unity University can be traced back to February 2007, when it launched two Postgraduate Programs, namely, Master of Business Administration and Master of Development Economics. In June, 2008, Unity University College became the first full-fledged University among the emerging private higher education institutions. As of November, 2008, Unity University became member of MIDROC Technology Group companies. After the University joined MIDROC Technology Group companies, its expansion increased further. The University stayed as member of TGC up to April, 2020, until Dr. Arega Yirdaw the President of the University, who has served simultaneously as the CEO of the TGC, cede the position of CEO of TGC and became the President and CEO of Unity University.