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Anchor University, Lagos, is set to bring refreshing perspectives into the teaching and learning process in Nigeria as lecturers across the country converged at the University campus in Lagos for a 3-day workshop on project-based learning. The workshop on Project-Based Learning (PBL) was organised by the University in conjunction with the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the United States. It held from Monday 21 to Wednesday 23, May 2018.
At the opening ceremony of the workshop on Monday, the Vice Chancellor of Anchor University, Lagos, Professor Joseph O. Afolayan emphasised that there was need to review the teaching processes in Nigeria if we desire to check the dwindling quality of graduates from our Universities. He also said PBL would enable the students to develop critical thinking skills that will ensure they become productive in their fields.
“Project-Based Learning would help trainers to understand and appreciate the limits of their students and ensure learners apply practical solutions to problems in classrooms and the real world,” he said as he encouraged all participants to internalise the training and apply them in their classrooms, carefully.
Also addressing the participants during the opening ceremony, the Dean, Faculty of Natural & Applied Sciences as well as chairman of the local organising committee, Prof Johnston Fatokun, said Project-based learning would help both the lecturers and their students to become problem-solvers and not just theoretical learners. He pointed out that the problem with the prevalent learning system in our society today is the approach. “Once this is addressed, the sky is the limit”, he noted.
“We need to understand and systematically teach our students how the lessons in their classrooms relate to the industry and how the solutions gotten in the classrooms can help resolve everyday challenges, he added.”
Speaking during the workshop, one of the participants, Fadeyi Olatunji of Department of Business Administration, Anchor University, said the workshop was bound to transform learning processes in AUL. In his words, “I am so impressed with what I have learnt so far. If this model is properly applied in classrooms, they are bound to produce graduates who are clearly ahead of their colleagues who underwent the traditional learning system.”
Also, Henry Keyinde Oduwole from Nasarawa State University, Nasarawa, believes that the quality of the training would help drive a new perspective in learning. “It will improve teaching and learning in Nigeria. It will also ensure our students are well prepared for the outside world,” he said.
The training was facilitated by Paula Quinn, Associate Director, Centre for Project-based learning, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Caitlin Keller, Instructional Designer from the same Institute.
Anchor University On Course for Rigorous Research in Space Science
In its drive to promote research in the Nigeria and make the country a global research hub, Anchor University has finalised plan for a collaboration that will drive research and development in space science.
According to Victor Nwankwo, Head of Physics Department, Anchor University, the University is on the verge of establishing a strong research base that will help in research and investigation relating to space science. As part of the plan, he was in India earlier in the year to meet with the Management of Indian Centre for Space Physics. The visit wasproductiveas they discussed how the centre could work with AUL to promote research activities relating to space physics in Nigeria. Indian Centre for Space Physics is an Indian based research organisation dedicated to leading and advanced investigations in space science, astronomy and astrophysics.
Speaking on the development during the inspection of Radio Wave equipment given to AUL by the centre, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Afolayan said Anchor University was ready to explore different ways to promote research and ensure students in the University are exposed to the best training available anywhere in the world.
“We are happy for this development in Anchor University. Dr Nwankwo was sent to Indian to see how AUL can collaborate and undertake research in space science and, this response is a proof that we are moving in the right direction,” the Vice Chancellor said as he directed that work on the installation of the equipment should commence immediately.
Commenting on the success of the trip, Nwankwo hinted that the visit has already started yielding results. In his words, “the management of the centre was upbeat about the proposal to work with Anchor University. They even donated one of the toolsproduced by the centre to AUL and, once installed, we will be able to receive signal and work on data from the ionosphere. This will help us to study atmospheric activities and use the data for research and learning in Anchor University.”
Beyond installation and use of the tool, Dr Nwankwo further explained that AUL would collaborate with relevant authorities within and outside Nigeria as well as have experts from the centre in India to train lecturers and students on how to use and drive rigorous research in space science.
Anchor University is a new faith-based University located at Ayobo, Lagos and is owned by the Deeper Christian Life Ministry. The Management of the University has set a huge target of becoming one of the top 5 Universities in Nigeria within its first 10 years of existence.
