ISSN 1595-1685 january 20, 2020 vol. 13 NO. 2
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka has been charged to define what its Postgraduate training will be known for.
The call was made by the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, University of Ibadan and lead paper presenter, Professor Oyebaniji Babalola at the maiden UNIZIK Postgraduate Teachers Assembly held recently at the University Auditorium.
Prof. Babalola disclosed that Unibadan has earned the description of being the flagship of Postgraduate education in Nigeria owing to the gigantic steps taken by the University.
He outlined the steps which include, having a knowledge driven and upgrading training system; facilitating the training of its staff on pedagogy and leadership with experts drawn from international circle, stepping to the challenge of funds for research by giving scholarship awards to Postgraduate students of the University.
Others include evolving an effective supervising role by embracing a committee of supervisors model; tightened regulations to track milestones at different points in order to track the sources of our problems; raising the bar to an appreciable level by developing an anti-plagiarism software tool known as “Turn-it-in” to which every PhD thesis is subjected before submission for final oral examination is conducted.
As a panacea to re-inventing the Postgraduate School of the University, Professor Babalola supported partnership with industries to raise funds; sponsorship of a considerable number of the staff for capacity training and development conferences and workshops, sourcing of multidisciplinary research funds from philanthropists who are interested in funding interesting research ideas and stepping up further inter-university interaction where minds are rubbed to generate ideas for development.
In his keynote address, which centered on “Postgraduate training, a cornerstone in #project200” the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, FAS commended the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies and her management team for organizing such a programme.
Prof. Esimone noted that it was of great interest to generate ideas and make recommendations on how to improve in the way things are done, stating the need for more efficient and effective use of researches both human and material.
To the Postgraduate Teachers, the Vice-Chancellor charged them to function more as a facilitator/mentor than in the mould of the traditional classroom teacher. He further charged them to guide the students in picking research topics, introduce them to research grant writing as well as assisting in the planning /conduct of the research and possible journal publication.
Earlier in her address, the Dean, UNIZIK School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Philomena Igbokwe said that the maiden Teachers Assembly was to afford the operation of the school the opportunity to review and discuss the Annual Report of the School as well as make the recommendations for its growth.
She affirmed the importance of the assembly with the theme “Repositioning our school in pursuance of #Project200 and Best Practices for Teaching and Supervision. The highlight of the Dean’s Annual Report were the Performance Review where she commented on organizing the first Orientation of Postgraduate Students in the history of the University, successful handling of 2019/2020 Postgraduate Admissions despite some hiccups. Others include SPGS board meetings held and the resolutions, Training conducted for Postgraduate teachers and the supervisors (the need for a dynamic expert system for PG supervisor profiling).
Prof. Igbokwe enjoined all to spare no effort in pursuing research, innovation and discovery that are beneficial to the public good.
This Bulletin is printed and published by the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) of the Vice – Chancellor’s office.
