Bahir Dar University was established by merging two former higher education institutions; namely the Bahir Dar Polytechnic and Bahir Dar Teachers’ College.

Blue Nile Water Institute (BNWI) was established in 2012 following the Legislation of Bahir Dar University and allowed to operate under the Vice President Office for Research and Community Service. Our vision is to see the institute being one of the ten premier water research Institutes in Africa by 2025 taking innovation, quality research and education, safety and ethics, teamwork, product/service oriented, and excellence as a core value.