Postgraduate Reform: Prof. Adedipe Canvasses Policy-Driven Research,
Innovations
…Calls for Attitudinal Change among Academics
An academic giant and erudite University administrator, Prof.
Nurudeen Olorun-Nimbe Adedipe, on Wednesday last week, said Postgraduate
Studies must have policy-driven research and innovations for it to achieve its
desired objective.
He made the submission while delivering the 12th
Public Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State,
Nigeria, titled, “Postgraduate Studies Reform for Capacity Building,
Institutional Strengthening and Quality Assurance in the Nigerian University
system”.
Prof. Adedipe said, “Postgraduate education is the ultimate
goal of research for development that delivers human well-being in its codified
ramification, therefore, policy on research governance and management
structures should place the Postgraduate School in the forefront as a focal
sub-sector.”
He stressed, “Nigerian Universities must not fall into the
trap of ignoring basic or fundamental research because in it lies sustainable
breakthroughs that translate into human well-being”
The Guest Lecturer recommended that postgraduate coursework
should be made more rigorous such that it would include a United Nation
operating foreign language – French, Arabic, Spanish – to enhance global job
competitiveness.
He also suggested the Postgraduate Studies Supervisory
Committee membership should include cross-college/faculty representatives in
the basic and applied areas of the student’s research discipline. He said the
exams, particularly, for doctorate degree, should be made open at least to the
University community.
Prof. Adedipe suggested that Dean of the Postgraduate School
shall chair higher degree examinations to ensure credibility and to maintain
standards for quality assurance
He advocated extension of the tenure of the Dean from the
conventional two terms of two years, to two terms of three – four years, and
that students must be made to carry out research work with strong hand-on bench,
studio or archival skill, while departmental seminars shall carry course units
which shall be graded in terms of attendance and presentation at the cardinal
stage of research work.
He insisted that stakeholders in the administration of
Universities must fast-track the implementation of the original intention of
designating some Universities as postgraduate Universities.
The Guest Lecturer, who noted University tripod as
teaching/training; research and development; and out-reach/public
service/extension service, advised fellow academics to have attitudinal change,
saying, “The tripod responsibility is what makes the University unique; and a
matter of choice, not a matter of chance.”
Prof. Adedipe noted, ‘Institutional strengthening depends on
capacity building; capacity building must be based on quality assurance;
quality assurance as a desideratum, must be driven by strategic planning and
directive, principles of defined imperatives, monitoring and evaluation.”
Earlier in his Opening Remark, the AAUA Vice Chancellor,
Prof. Femi Mimiko, said the University has constantly brought national and
international technocrats within and outside tertiary institutions to
interrogate issues of paramount importance to not just the policy makers in all
the sectors of the economy, but also the University as generators of ideas and
merchants of knowledge.
The VC affirmed that Nigerian Universities have not done
badly in terms of postgraduate studies and research.
He, however said, “The challenges posed by technology,
funding and declining quality of our work ethics, and moral tone, and perhaps
that of our products too, among others, have made taking a second look at the
nation’s postgraduate programmes appropriate.”
Prof. Mimiko called on the academic, administrative and
technical staff of Nigerian Universities “to let us have a deeper, broader and
indeed more profound appreciation of our roles and place in the scheme of
things. Let us re-focus and bring back the academic culture, intellectual
creativity and professionalism all of which have been greatly eroded by
unbridled unionism these past few years.”
The VC appreciated the Guest Lecturer on behalf of the
University Community for honoring the invitation to deliver the lecture.
Alex Akinyele Commends AAUA VC’s Transformational Efforts
A doyen of Public Relations practice in Nigeria, Sir Chief Alexander
Opeyemi Akinyele, JP, on Monday last week, commended the modest
transformational efforts being made by the Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin
University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, Prof. Femi Mimiko.
Chief Akiyele spoke with the Information Unit of the
University after taking a tour of the campus during his courtesy call on the
Vice Chancellor in his office
The Public Relations leading light said, “I am personally
interested in new Universities. But by and large, it is a bit difficult to
believe that, within five years, Prof. Mimiko has done so much. It gives the
impression that he didn’t actually rest at all. It is excellent. It is
difficult to believe that the University is barely 15 years old.”
Chief Akinyele attributed the achievements of the Prof.
Mimiko-led administration to the peaceful coexistence among the University
Authority, staff and students, saying, “In the absence of peace, not much can
be achieved. And at the same time, I believe that the Council, the Management,
staff and students have fairly cooperated with the Vice Chancellor.”
He expressed the hope that landmark achievements of the incumbent
administration would be consolidated by its successors, adding, “I pray that
the next VC would be in the like of Prof. Mimiko because he has done very
well.”
Caption: AAUA VC, Prof. Femi
Mimiko (Right), in a handshake with the Guest Lecturer of AAUA 12th
Public Lecture, Prof. Olorun-Nimbe Adedipe
