The Institute of Distance and Virtual Education /IDVE/ was a merger of two programmes that previously started operating as separate distance education and training institutions: one through the print mode assisted by light technologies such as audiovisuals for selected courses and the other employing advanced technologies such as Video Conferencing and Woreda-net as well as E-learning.

The Ethiopian Civil Service College Print-based Distance Education Programme /IDE/ was established in 1999 to facilitate the provisions of courses through distance mode. The rationale for the introduction of distance education programme to the College system is to extend its reach to a larger number of civil servants so as to enhance the attainment of the trained human power needs of the Federal and Regional Governments Thus, with a vision of being a center of excellence in distance education provision in Ethiopia, it has its mission of building the capacity of Ethiopian civil servants while at work by improving their access to quality education.

The major goals of the Institute are:

• providing quality education to civil servants through the print based mode supplemented by audiovisuals through its regional centers;
• Providing short-term trainings through Video Conference and Wereda-net modes as well as through e-learning.
• Facilitating the video-conference facility for clients both at home and abroad.
• conducting research in an attempt to make training fit the demands of the civil service system of the country; and
• providing consultancy services.