2 Further Details: Project Website:
www.eeespec.orgwww.eeespec.org Email:
[email protected]@gre.ac.uk Embedding Employability and
Entrepreneurship Skills into Post-Graduate Degree Courses Professor
Ndy Ekere Dean, School of Engineering University of Greenwich 28 th
March 2011 EEESPEC PROJECT: EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS IN AFRICA
PROGRAMME* *Funded by the UK Government Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills and administered by the British Council
Slide 3
3 My Educational Background & Work Experience. Educational
Background 1981 BEng. [Honours] Mechanical Engineering (University
of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria) 1984 MSc Flexible Manufacturing
Systems & Robotics (Loughborough University, Leicestershire,
UK) 1987 PhD Manufacturing Engineering (UMIST, Manchester, United
Kingdom) 1992 Chartered Engineer, MIEE (The Institution of
Electrical Engineers, UK) 2004 Fellow of IEE, FIEE (now FIET) (The
Institution of Electrical Engineers, UK) Work Experience 2002 -
Date: Dean of School Engineering and Professor of Manufacturing,
University of Greenwich 2005 2009 Member of Board of Governors,
West Kent College Tonbridge Kent 1998 2002 Professor of
Manufacturing Engineering, and Associate Head of School/Director
for Research, University of Salford 1996 1998 Senior Lecturer in
Manufacturing Engineering, University of Salford, 1989 1996
Lecturer in Manufacturing Engineering, University of Salford 1989
Lecturer in Manufacturing Engineering, Nottingham Trent University,
Nottingham 1988 1989 Postdoctoral Fellow UMIST, Manchester 1987
1988 Project Assistant, UMIST, Manchester 1982 1983 Mechanical
Engineer, Project Construction and Terminals Operations, Shell
Petroleum Corporation, Warri, Nigeria
Slide 4
4.. Former Woolwich Polytechnic.. Established 1890 u Second
Polytechnical Institute to be founded in the UK to promote the
industrial skill, general knowledge, health and well-being of young
people belonging to the poorer classes. Woolwich Polytechnic
focused on providing high quality education in science and in
technical subjects such as engineering, as well as art, commercial
studies and domestic management. Quintin Hogg University of
Greenwich
Slide 5
5 3 CAMPUSES Greenwich Maritime Campus, Greenwich Greenwich
Maritime, Eltham London Medway Campus, Chatham Kent University of
Greenwich
Slide 6
6 1.Architecture and Construction 2.The Business School
3.Computing & Mathematical Sciences 4.Education and Training
5.Health and Social Care 6.Humanities & Social Sciences
7.School of Engineering 8.Medway School of Pharmacy 9.School of
Science Nine Schools
Slide 7
7 Pioneer in fibre optics, Standard Telecommunications
Laboratories (STL) in Harlow Later Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese
University in Hong Kong His research enabled the use of fibre
optics in telecommunications and led to the development of the
internet, video conferencing and electronic commerce BEng in
Electrical Engineering and graduated in 1957 Professor Charles Kao
CBE (1957 Woolwich Polytechnic) University of Greenwich Alumni Wins
Nobel Prize for Physics, 2009
Slide 8
8 Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards, June
2010 Outstanding International Strategy award (3). Collaborative
Programme development: in Ethiopia, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda and
Kenya (4). Natural Resources Institute (NRI): Capacity building
through PhDs with Kebbi State University, Nigeria and many
collaborative research projects. (3). Education Partnerships in
Africa: Partnership with three Nigerian Universities Expertise in
Capacity Building (1). Tabeisa Project (with 4 African
Universities): Generating Employment for disadvantaged communities
through small business creation, the project supported over 100
commercial start-ups) (2). Partnership with MSA University in
Cairo: Collaborative programmes (over 2000 undergraduate students
are enrolled)
Slide 9
9 Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher Education, 2008 Times
Higher Education Awards 2010 Tony Mann, Innovative Teacher of the
Year Award The Knowledge Base Collaboration Award 2008 Professor
Chris Bailey, School of Computing and Mathematics University of
Greenwich/Knowledge East working with Cutty Sark Trust Professor
Steve Torr, NRI University of Greenwich, 2009 Tsetse fly control
discovery voted as one of the ten most important discoveries to be
made in a UK university over the past 60 years. Professor John
Humphries, Tabeisa Project 'tackling root causes of poverty in
Africa' University of Greenwich Awards for Research &
Teaching
Slide 10
10 Some Definitions: Employability & Entrepreneurship
Employability: A range of achievements, understandings, and
personal attributes that make their possessors more likely to gain
employment and be successful in their careers Entrepreneurship: The
practice of starting new organizations or revitalizing mature
organizations. An entrepreneur undertakes the risk of a business or
similar enterprise. Type of Skill: Self-reliance skills (e.g.
Planning action, proactivity, networking, etc.) People skills (e.g.
Team working, interpersonal, communications, etc.) General
employment skills (e.g. problem solving, numeracy, etc.) Specialist
skills (e.g. technical skills such as engineering, accounting,
etc.)
Slide 11
11 u High Unemployment rate at 40% of annual turn over; u
Applicants outnumber placement by more than 3:1; u Staffing levels
at 40% below planned level; u Postgraduate programmes pursued as a
stop-gap pending employment UK-Nigeria Education Summit at Abuja
(October 2008)
Slide 12
12 u Federal Government of Nigerias SIWES provides workplace
experience for undergraduates; For science, engineering,
environmental and business courses only; Admission quota is 40:60
for arts and sciences respectively; 40% of annual turnover of
graduates without employability skills; Skills Deficit Workplace
Awareness/Experience Employability skills are rarely taught in PG
Courses; Majority of PG students are unemployed on completion of
the degree programme.
Slide 13
13 Project Title: Developing high level employability skills
through collaborative development of postgraduate programmes EPA 3:
PROJECT DETAILS ... UK Project Partner University of Greenwich, UK
(Lead Partner) Nigerian Project Partners: Abia State University,
Uturu, Abia State University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State
Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State
http://www.eeespec.org/project.htm Project Duration: October 2009
to March 2011
Slide 14
14 Project Aims: Collaborate in postgraduate programme
development and Create forward looking courses in which
entrepreneurship and employability are firmly embedded PROJECT AIMS
... Project Focus: Engineering and Technology Computing and
Information Technology (with a focus on Mobile computing, wireless
technologies and networking) International business (with focus on
Management and leadership)
Slide 15
15 How can E & E Skills be captured in PG Degree Curriculum
? KEY CURRICULUM DESIGN/RE-DESIGN QUESTIONS What content shall we
deliver? What strategies should be employed to deliver and assess
this content? How best do we operate within the existing and future
professional environment? How best can we facilitate the
employability and entrepreneurship of our graduates? CURRICULUM
AUDITING: Testing how & where E & E related learning can be
embedded Core discipline specific learning (e.g. disciplinary
content and skills expressed as expected learning outcomes) Generic
transferable skills (e.g. management of self, others, information
and task)
Slide 16
16 How are aspects E/E Developed within Curriculum ? DISCIPLINE
SPECIFIC NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL Employability/Entrepreneurship
through whole curriculum? Employability/Entrepreneurship in the
core curriculum? Work-based or work-related learning?
Employability/Entrepreneurship modules? Work-based or work related
learning in parallel? WHICH IS THE MOST PRACTICAL /COST EFFECTIVE
?
Slide 17
17 What should the Postgraduate be able to do? THREE DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES OF EMPLOYABILITY Employers Perspective: discipline
knowledge/skills as well as workplace awareness/experience Student
Perspective: possessing attributes that makes one attractive to
employers, successful careers Universitys Perspective: developing
PG students, to enhance their academic learning, to broaden their
perspectives and experience and enable them to actively enter the
workforce. HOW ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT - THEIR PERSPECTIVE?
Slide 18
18 u Conference declared open and chaired by ABSU
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa u Attendance-over 500 made up
of students, lecturers and PG Employers u Presentations by Project
partners u Open forum and discussions u Plenary session on
employability strategies Project Launch Event at ABSU March
2010
Slide 19
19 u Visits to Banks, Insurance Companies and Manufacturers; u
Discussion with members of Alumni Association u Visit to Oil
Companies-SPDC, Adax, Agip and Mobil; u Dialogue with Personnel
Unit of Ministries. Strategic Dialogue with Employers and visit to
Industries
Slide 20
20 u Conference declared open by Prof. Tom Barnes Deputy-VC for
Research and Enterprise University of Greenwich; u Presentation by
Prof. K. Rajah, Director School of Business, Tshwame University of
Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Prof. Leslie Johnson, Dean of
School of Business, UoG; Simon Walker, Head Education Development
Team UoG; Raj Bhatti, Head of PG, School of Engineering, UoG; Prof.
Akii Ibhodade, Faculty of Engineering, UNIBEN; Prof. Martin Nwafor,
HoD of Mechanical Engineering, FUTO; Prof. I.U. Kalu, Dean School
of Environmental Studies, ABSU u Site visits to Aylesford Newsprint
and Delphi Diesel Systems Factory Curriculum Development Seminar at
UoG (June 2010)
Slide 21
21 u Chaired by the Deputy VC Academic who represented the Vice
Chancellor of UNIBEN; u Presentations by Prof. I.U. Kalu of ABSU;
Prof. Ndy Ekere of UoG; Prof. Martin Nwafor of FUTO; Prof. Akii
Ibhadode & Dr. John Akpobi of UNIBEN, u Open sessions featured
contribution by Dean of Engineering Prof. F. O. Edeako, Prof. G.
Ovuworie of Dept. of Prod. Engineering, alumni and employers of
labour. Dissemination Event at UNIBEN (5 October 2010)
Slide 22
22 EPA Curriculum Development Seminar University of Greenwich,
June 2010 Dissemination Event, UNIBEN, 5 Oct 2010 Dissemination
Event, UoG, 18 Feb 2011
Slide 23
23 UK-Nigeria Universities Postgraduate Employability Network
(UNUPEN) WORKING TOGETHER WORKS !
http://www.eeespec.org/unupen/members.htm
Slide 24
24 UNUPEN: Opportunities for Partnership UK Nigeria
Universities Postgraduate Employability Network UNUPEN Network was
established in June 2010 UK and Nigerian Partners on EPA Project on
the development of postgraduate employability skills . The main aim
of the Network is to promote and facilitate interaction and
exchange between UK and Nigerian Universities in the area of
graduate and post- graduate employability
Slide 25
25 . Working to create a research community in the area of PG
employability, by developing interactions between the UK-Nigeria
university research community and industrial groups .. UK Nigeria
Universities Postgraduate Employability Network How? a.Facilitate
the sharing of research results, experience, best practice and
insights; b.Promote mobility between academe, universities and
industry.
Slide 26
26 Building links between UK and Nigerian Universities,
employers and the network of government, voluntary sector and
community organisations working on graduate employability WORKING
WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS The Network works with others in the
University, Industry, Government and voluntary sectors Supporting
the development of employability skills in postgraduate students
and to facilitate their entry into the world of work
Slide 27
27 In realisation of the objectives of the EPA-3 Project
Promotion and facilitation of interaction and exchanges between UK
and Nigeria Universities in the area of employability; Build links
between UK and Nigerian Universities, employers and government on
employability; Sharing of research results, experience and best
practices; Promotion of exchange visits between universities in
both countries Organise Seminars and Workshops to promote
postgraduate employability Summary of Aims and Objectives of the
Network
Slide 28
28 u Virtual community of UK-Nigeria Academic staff with
employability and entrepreneurship bias; u Collaborative research
(bidding, execution & dissemination of results); u Capacity
building for the proposed Departments of Entrepreneurships to be
established in Nigerian Universities UNUPEN - JUSTIFICATION
Slide 29
29 u Sustaining work of UNUPEN through partnership with stake-
holders (Co-hosting Seminars and Workshops in Nigeria &UK); u
Network will provide mentoring support for Nigerian Postgraduate
students studying in the UK; u Support from Key Stakeholders in
Nigeria (such as NUC, ACU, PTDF, ETF, etc.) UNUPEN THE FUTURE
Slide 30
30 Members include academics from UK and Nigerian Universities
(currently drawn from 6 UK Universities and 8 Nigerian
Universities) Current Membership and Activities Activities
Organises events such as seminars, workshops and conferences to
promote discussion and dissemination of research in this field
(using mostly electronic communications), Providing other
opportunities for dissemination and debate on this very important
agenda Mentoring Nigerian Students studying in the UK .. ETC
http://www.eeespec.org/unupen/members.htm
Slide 31
31 Conclusions - Postgraduate Employability in Nigeria Nigerian
Businesses facing the same global challenges: uncertain demand,
volatile economy, world-wide competition for talent and income,
managing uncertainty and risk . Challenging Global Economic
Climate: - Requires an entrepreneurial response Nigerian Government
trying to develop Entrepreneurship: establishment of
Entrepreneurship Departments in each University; . But Knowledge
economy with graduate and postgraduate knowledge exchange key to
national growth .
Slide 32
32 Framework for Developing Entrepreneurial Postgraduates
UNIVERSITIES Top level leadership by VCs providing visible
leadership... Academics take ownership, enable curriculum change...
PG Students .. value learning experiences . BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRY
(and other Employers) Businesses be fully involved to enrich
student learning Industry . develop effective in-course industrial
training NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT: Better funding recognise importance
University education Employability invest in employability
development Tougher regulation & Standards . Address technical
skills gaps in specific fields of HE, ensure tougher
regulations..
Slide 33
33 EXAMPLES OF WHAT UNIVERSITIES ARE DOING u TIME IN INDUSTRY
AS INTEGRAL PART OF DEGREE SANDWICH (Thin or thick Sandwich
Programmes) ATTACHMENT (Industrial Placements) u ENTREPRENEURIAL
COURSES/MODULES COMPULSORY ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES (e.g. Core)
RUNNING BUSINESSES (Business start-ups) SKILLS TRAINING
(Professional mentoring by entrepreneurs)
Slide 34
34 . NIGERIA SPECIFIC ISSUES u JOB CREATION ESSENTIAL
GOVERNMENTS NOT COPING PRIVATE SECTOR STILL UNDER-DEVELOPED u
GRADUATES MUST BE SEEN AS POTENTIAL CREATORS OF EMPLOYMENT NEED TO
CHANGE FROM JOB-SEEKING MINDSET & INCULCATE JOB CREATION SKILLS
HELPING WITH FINANCING START UPS INVESTING IN INNOVATION HUBS
(SCIENCE PARKS)