Title: UNIVERSITYINDUSTRYGOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS TOWARDS ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
1UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIPS
TOWARDS ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
BY PROFESSOR JULIUS A. OKOJIE Executive
Secretary National Universities Commission,
Abuja Paper presented at the Engineering
Africa Conference on March 4-6, 2007at the
Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
2Introduction Quality Assurance in Higher
Education deserves utmost attention No nation
can develop beyond the quality of its higher
education
3Introduction Contd Once Upon a time Nigerian
Universities once rubbed shoulders with the best
in the world High quality expatriate academics
had once desired to be in the scholarly
environment provided by Nigerian
universities Foreign universities were once
eager to forge collaborative links with lecturers
in Nigerian universities Nigerian students once
had no problem getting placements abroad for
graduate studies Nigerian universities would
have ranked amongst the first 100 in the world if
there was ranking in those days.
4Introduction Contd How did we get to where we
are today? .We went to sleep while those we
were rubbing shoulders with continued to work and
before were realized what was happening the gap
created seemed impossible to bridge.
5ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN NIGERIA HOW IT BEGAN
Yaba Higher College 1940s
Zaria campus (University College Ibadan) 1955
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 1962
University of Nigeria, Nsukka 1960
University of Lagos 1964
Obafemi Awolowo University (1970), and
University of Benin 1971
University of Ibadan 1972
There are 35 Engineering Faculties across
Nigerian Universities
6ENGINEERING EDUCATION Overall objective . is
the production of engineering graduates capable
of operating in both the public and private
sectors of the economy, with the ability to
initiate and implement engineering designs,
engage in industrial management and also have the
capability to conduct research and development.
7- ENGINEERING EDUCATION
- specific objectives
- Provide a learning environment that leads to
the production of high calibre manpower in the
area of engineering and technology - Carry out relevant research in engineering and
technology for the total advancement of our
society and to render such other services to
the community as may be relevant from time to
time - Train engineers capable of meeting the
challenges of the sustained technological
development of Nigeria
8- ENGINEERING EDUCATION
- Specific Objectives Contd
- Provide educational training and skills
necessary for understanding, planning,
designing, operating and maintaining the
various processes and systems involved in
modern technology - Provide opportunity for personal maturity and
intellectual growth, for the attainment of
professional competence and for the
development of social responsibility
9- ENGINEERING EDUCATION
- Specific Objectives Contd
- Provide skilled engineering manpower which is
regarded as a principal factor for economic
development and the prosperity of any nation
and - Establish universities of technology as a direct
response to the needs of Nigeria for skills
innovative and technologically oriented
manpower resources for the development of the
technological base of our economy.
10SO FAR
- Positive Impact of Nigerias Specialized
Universities of Science and Technology -
- In 25 years, produced over 210,000 graduates in
sciences, engineering and technology. - Graduates of Nigerias universities of Science
and Technology are currently offering services in
the manufacturing, oil and gas, agriculture,
mining and other ST-related sectors of the local
(Nigeria) and world economies. -
11SO FAR contd.
- Activities contributing to national and global
ST development through research are copiously
cited in scholarly journals as contributing to
solving national and global problems relating
to science and technology. - Staff and students of the universities have
won several national and international awards
in science and technology.
12Areas of Poor Performance
- In recent times, graduates of universities of
technology are poorly skilled and are not
globally competitive. - Little significant contribution by way of quality
human resource provision and research to emerging
areas of national development e.g. agriculture,
oil and gas, telecommunications, energy and space
programmes. - Diversion away from main mandate to engagement in
non-ST courses.
13Areas of Poor Performance contd.
- Failed to assume leadership position in driving
the nations ST agenda. - The impact of the universities on the expansion
of the frontiers of knowledge in science and
technology through research has been very
limited.
14Areas for Greater Impact
- Training of highly-skilled graduates for the oil
and gas sector, telecommunications industry, etc -
- e.g. mobile technology mining especially of
solid minerals Nigerias space technology
programme agriculture electricity generation
and distribution, etc
15Areas for Greater Impact contd.
- Conduct of research into local and global
problems seeking science, engineering and
technology solutions especially in the areas of
the environment, space, local content for the oil
and gas industry. - Production of entrepreneurial graduates that will
create jobs thereby contributing to the poverty
reduction agenda of NEEDS.
16UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP
University
products
products
F u n d
Industry
Government
17UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP CONTD
Govt.
Ind.
Univ.
Information flow
18- ROLES IN THE PARTNERSHIP
- GOVERNMENT
- Makes available the operational framework that
will guide the universities and the industries
generally in the realization of their mandates
and expectations to the people. - Provides the enabling infrastructure like power,
water and good roads to facilitate the
operations of the university and the industry. - Ensures adequate funding for the universities
established by it so that they can fulfill their
obligations effectively without stress. - Develops a research agenda to ensure a
systematic and focused research for national
development.
19- ROLES IN THE PARTNERSHIP CONTD
- INDUSTRY
- Assist government in providing social
infrastructural within the universities. - Commission and fund specific research projects
in Nigerian Universities to enhance the
development of their products and services - Partner with Universities for graduate
retraining and quality enhancement - Allow academics into the industry for knowledge
exchange - for specific projects - Involve in voluntary corporate fund-raising to
support research and development and
appreciation of long gestation period
20- ROLES IN THE PARTNERSHIP CONTD
- UNIVERSITIES
- Focus on demand-driven research and development
to attract patronage by the industry and
government - Ensure Capacity building programmes to further
scholarship and relevance in the economy - Collaborate in manpower planning with inputs
from the industry in curriculum reviews - Develop expertise and alliances in specific
areas, through collaboration with other
institutions
21- ADVANTAGES OF THE PARTNERSHIP
- Multi-faceted synergy of access to expertise,
working culture, funding and industry knowledge
- Proven means of driving technological
innovation, economic growth and industrial
development - Available government grants for Research and
Development can be channeled mainly to
basic/developmental research
22- ADVANTAGES OF THE PARTNERSHIP CONTD
- Outsourcing Research and Development to
Universities reduces overheads and thus makes
the industry partner more competitive. - There is a benefit of an integrated and
directional guide to Research and Development
efforts by the government and industry partners. - Students develop leadership and team skills
they benefit from real-life experiences not
available in the classroom.
23CONCLUSION no system is an island.
Government cannot function optimally and
effectively without the entire sector of the
economy functioning in like manner.
Universities will not thrive with government
being their sole or major partner. A university
does well when it is guaranteed of both
government and private sector partnership. The
industry cannot have the manpower needed to
actualize its focus without the university and
government playing their roles effectively.
Breaking new grounds in production is a function
of focused and qualitative research which is the
hallmark of a universitys existence.
24CONCLUSION CONTD If University-Industry-Governm
ent partnership is greased, and enhanced,
engineering education will be the better for it.
We have a duty to our universities, industries
and country consequently all hands must be on
deck to forge a strong university-industry-governm
ent partnership for a highly qualitative
engineering education.
25I thank you for your attention