VC Advocates Capacity Building For Academic Excellence
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Edo State University, Uzairue, Prof. Dawood Egbefo has disclosed that training and retraining of academic staff on modern teaching techniques is the way forward for academic excellence.
Prof. Egbefo made the assertion during the opening ceremony of a two-day capacity training workshop for academic staff of the Institution on modern teaching techniques.
Declaring the ceremony open on Tuesday 8th October, 2024 at the Aliko Dangote Auditorium, Prof. Egbefo said it was imperative for academic staff to acquire and apply new teaching techniques for academic development.
He said no amount of time spent in colleges or universities that will be enough to complete the preparation for a teacher for classroom tasks, emphasizing that teachers must continually be trained and retrained as well as armed with the requisite modern knowledge acquired for the 21st century engagement.
The VC noted that the training is to lay a solid foundation for a sound academic session as it is aimed to enable us get acquainted with the challenges ahead of us as we prepare for the first semester.
According to him, academic staff performance can be influenced by various factors, adding that a number of techniques can be adopted to improve academic staff performance.
Dr. Osumah listed such techniques to include investment in staff training; development mentorship and coaching; creating enabling environment; set clear goals and expectations; analysis of critical incidents and provision of regular feedback; Recognition and reward; and opportunity for growth and development.
Speaking at the workshop, a guest lecturer from Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Prof. Godwin Okogun called on the Federal Government to adequately fund tertiary education in Nigeria.
He said that the major issues affecting tertiary education is gross under funding which affects teaching, learning and research.
According to him, tertiary education is grossly under funded and government needs enough money to inject into the system as under funding is one of the bane of education development which has contributed to the low standard of education in the country.
Also speaking, the Director, ICT of the Institution, Dr. Ayodeji Makinde, who spoke on the Teaching Aids in an Academic Environment emphasised the importance of teaching aid in a modern teaching era.
Dr. Makinde said teaching aids provides learners with more clarity about the context that they are being taught, adding that all these activities create friendly learning atmosphere in the class and bridge the gap between teachers and students.
Earlier, the Director of Professional Training and Development of the Institution, Dr. Anthony Iyoha said the training is geared towards empowering the academic staff with teaching skills required for a world class institution.
“The knowledge and experience you will acquire from this exercise will in no small measure assist you to impact our students positively”.
“I therefore implore you to listen attentively to the speakers for you to gain knowledge at the end”, Iyoha said.
