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th ISSN 0795-3089 24 October, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 42 NUC Takes Far-reaching Decisions with Vice Chancellors Scraps sub-degree diplomas, to review curriculum, rank Nigerian Universities soon L-R: Deputy Executive Secretary, I, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana; Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed; Secretary-General, CVC, Prof. Michael Faborode and Deputy Executive Secretary, II, Mal. Ibrahim Dan’Iya he National Universities been scheduled for 2017, while two reaching decisions taken at the Commission (NUC) has of the cardinal activities of the interactions of the Executive Tscrapped sub-degree Commission, Accreditation of Secretary, NUC, Professor diploma programmes in the Programmes and Resource Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, with Nigerian University System Verification, will now take place Vice Chancellors of federal, state (NUS), with a call on universities o n l y t w i c e a n d t h r i c e a and private universities in the running them to begin the process year,respectively: May and country. of winding them down. A November for Accreditation as well comprehensive review of the as March, July and December for The three-day meeting, which ran entire university curricula [the Resource Verification. from Monday, 10th to Wednesday, Benchmark Minimum Academic 12th October, 2016, had the entire Standards (BMAS)] and ranking These were some of the far- NUC Management with Vice on of Nigerian Universities have also the second and those of private universities, along with some of NUC Drafts BMAS For Agric Extension, Page BUK English Department Honours Page Software Engineering No. 7 its Own No. 9 24th October, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 42 Chancellors of federal universities bodies, shortfalls in personnel Institutional Research Policy; and, on the first day, their counterparts emoluments and incorporation of as a matter of urgency, establish a in state universities on the second universities into the Integrated R e s e a r c h A d m i n i s t r a t i o n and those of private universities, Personnel Payroll Information Directorate, to be headed by an along with some of their Systems (IPPIS) and matters academic, not below the rank of a proprietors, on the third day. arising from the 2009 agreement Professor; with appropriate human between the Federal Government and material resources to run an Other decisions taken include the and Academic Staff Union of Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer (OIPTT) or O f f i c e o f T e c h n o l o g y Commercialisation and Industry Relations (OTCIR). The Research Directorate of NUC is being strengthened to work with those of universities to co-ordinate research activities in universities and ensure relevance of their outputs. To guarantee continuous quality improvement, the universities were directed to strengthen their Prof. Rasheed with Prof. Mafiana internal quality assurance mechanisms by establishing a revamping of Institutional Universities (ASUU) were also Directorate of Quality Assurance Accreditation, commencement of extensively discussed. So was the as a stand alone, or in the accreditation of part-time issue of governance structure as alternative, ensure a strong programmes and resumption of the well as the university education Quality Assurance Unit in the Nigerian University System component of the Ministerial Directorate of Academic Planning. A n n u a l R e v i e w M e e t i n g Action Plan. This is to be headed by an (U S A RM ). The is s ues of academic, who must also be a accreditation of academic All the universities were charged to member of Senate. programmes by professional develop and implement an f a L-R: Deputy Executive Secretary II, Mal Ibrahim Dan’Iya; Directors of Research and Innovation, Dr. Suleiman Ramon-Yusuf and Quality Assurance, Dr. Noel Saliu, with the Proprietor, Gregory University, Uturu, Chief Gregory Ibe MONDAY BULLETIN A Publication of The Office of The Page 2 Executive Secretary 24th October, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 42 L-R:Mal. Dan’Iya, Directors of ODE, Dr. Esther Adesina; I&PR, Ibrahim Usman Yakasai; DAS, Dr. Gidado Kumo; DESO, Mrs. Constance Goddy-Nnadi; SSS, Dr. Rukayyatu Gurin and DPP&D, Mr. Jide Olukoju Chancellors that he called the NUC called for a complete change meeting to take them into On the scrapping of university of orientation, saying a university confidence by intimating them with diplomas, the Executive Secretary that internalises quality would NUC's new thinking, programmes told the meetings that running sub- make the Commission's work and direction. As partners in degree diplomas was not the easier because it would cover progress, with common concerns, business of Universities, but that issues such as guidelines for the he hoped to get the VCs' feedbacks of Polytechnics, more so when the appointment and promotion of and also be informed about their Federal Government, as far back staff, research policy, applying for universities' programmes, activities as November, 2001, had issued a grants and judicious use of the and plans for the future as well as circular stating that such diplomas same, the role of Senate in what they expected of the could not be used for employment curricular development, admission Commission. The aim was to or promotion purposes in the of students, how teaching and reposition NUC to work more Public Service. learning take place, administration closely with the universities for of examinations, appointment of effective quality service delivery, as Rather than stretch their facilities external examiners, university they perform their tripartite to run sub-degree programmes, the ceremonies, etc. function of teaching, research and universites, he said, should direct community service. their energies towards their Professor Rasheed told the Vice L-R: Directors of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Sam Onazi; Inspection and Monitoring, Mrs. Essien Usendiah; Physical Planning and Development, Mr. Jide Olukoju; Protocol and Special Duties, Mr. Chris Maiyaki MONDAY BULLETIN A Publication of The Office of The Page 3 Executive Secretary 24th October, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 42 Some Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities at the meeting readiness to work with them to primary function of producing Nigerian Universities to identify develop the BMAS for such new high level manpower for the their areas of strength/comparative programmes. economy, by strenthening their advantage and collaborate among part-time programmes, in addition themselves to mount joint Ph.D Following the recent development t o o ff e r i n g h i g h q u a l i t y programmes. of the BMAS for Aeronautics and undergraduate degrees as well as Aerospace Engineering, a postgraduate diplomas and While counselling the Vice collaboration between NUC and degrees. Chancellors to be courageous the Kwara State University, enough to close down any unviable Malete; the Executive Secretary In view of the increasing cost of programme, Professor Rasheed said the Commission would soon Ph.D training abroad and the need also tasked them to be creative and conclude work on the BMAS for for Nigerian universities to innovative enough to come up with the Bachelor's degree in Software continue to develop their staff and new courses and programmes that Engineering, Cyber Security, produce more PhDs for the would address emerging societal Agriculture Extension Services, economy, NUC encouraged all challenges. He expressed NUC's Medical Physics, Information their areas of strength/comparative Technology and Management Cross section of Vice-Chancellors and representatives of State Universities MONDAY BULLETIN A Publication of The Office of The Page 4 Executive Secretary 24th October, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 42 Information System, among and merits. Most of our graduates as the need for its universities to be o t h e r s . H e r e m i n d e d t h e are qualitative and they can hold globally respected. universities that, while they could their own any where.” not jettison the BMAS, it was the On the reform and streamlining of minimum for each programme and He expressed regret that whereas the accreditation process, the they were at liberty, indeed, the positive things happening in the Executive Secretary explained encouraged, to innovate and build NUS were largely under-reported, that, NUC hitherto, conducted the on it. the negative ones, like when a few exercise all year round, but the semi-illiterates graduated from the plan to conduct it twice a year For the comprehensive review of system, either through cheating or would give the Commission the university curricula, NUC some other forms of corruption and enough time to plan well for it and would engage a mix of old, were unable to defend their also perform its other statutory experienced and young, vibrant certificates, dominated the air functions without distractions. He academics to come up with waves. warned that any university that curricula that would not only be failed to present its programmes dynamic and responsive to Rankings stimulate competition for accreditation, as and when due, national needs, but also conform to among different universities and without satisfactory reasons, given global trends. programmes, and contribute to the well in advance, would earn denied definition of quality. The NUC accreditation and the relevant Reacting to the constant criticism Scribe, however, dissociated the agencies (JAMB and NYSC) of Nigerian universities' poor Commission from any reported would be duly notified. showing in global ranking, ranking of Nigerian universities in Professor Rasheed submitted that the mass media, saying it had not Plans are underway to restore and many of the variables, parameters embarked on any such exercise in standardise the coordination and indicators of those rankings the last 15 years. It was, therefore, meetings for panel members. were outside the control of embarking on next year's ranking NUC would be more creative and Nigerian universities and the NUC.