By Raphael Okhiria
A-3 day regular capacity building workshop/staff development programme, have been organized for the staff of Edo State University, Uzairue.
The workshop was based on research proposal writing, grants management and academic leadership for the academic and technologist staff of the university.
Declaring the workshop open, Vice Chancellor of the university, Engr Prof Emmanuel Aluyor, stated that the workshop which is an annual programme is aimed at strengthening the academic staff knowledge on how to write research proposal, manage grants, academic leadership and what are required from the staff in terms of their general everyday work
He called on the university staff especially the academic staff to engage themselves in teaching, research and community development as that would strengthen their academic knowledge.
Prof. Aluyor, further stated that a similar workshop is also designed for the non-academics staff of the university as soon as school resumes.
On his part, Prof Mathew F Olaniyan of the department of medical laboratory science whose lecture was titled “workshop overview and expectations”, said emotional intelligence and academic leadership is crucial in academic leadership as it enables effective communication, empathy and collaboration.
He said leaders with high emotional intelligence can navigate interpersonal relationships, understand the needs of their team and foster a positive and inclusive academic environment as this can contribute to the better decision-making, conflict resolutions and overall success in leading educational institutions.
Also speaking, Prof S. K Otoikhian of the department of chemical engineering, spoke on the understanding the role of research and development, innovation in nation building.
He said personal development is the process of improving one’s skills and increased the amount of experience one has on the job.
He went further to state that personal action plan is to set some objectives in relation to what one has learned and how he can apply it.
Prof.Otoikhian, said the current situation in relation to opportunities/threats in applying one learning and how committed is one to achieving these objectives.
According to him, the importance of research can not be over emphasized as it has contributed to the economic growth, social growth, knowledge transfer, innovation, spillover to wider communities and increased diversity of those conducting research.
Other speakers included Dr. Williams O. Odiwo of the department of business administration. His topic was on the understanding the TETFUND research and development intervention-paradigm shift for the 21st century.
He analysized the role of TETFUND in tertiary institution in Nigeria to include research, physical infrastructure/programme update; project maintenance; TETFUND scholarship; teaching practice; equipment fabrication; journal publication; manuscript development; conference attendance and ICT support
Dr. Odiwo also stated that the TETFUND mandate are provision of essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning; provision of instructional materials and equipment research, books development and publication; academic staff training and development and any other need which in the opinion of the board of trustees is critical and essential for the improvement of quality and maintenance of standard in the Educational institution.
Dr. Mrs. Harriet Omokinowo Efanador of the department of political science and public administration and Prof. M. Maliki of the department of chemistry spoke on planning and developing a fundable research project and writing a fundable research proposal respectively.
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