University of Greenwich YOU ARE VERY WELCOME ………

University of Greenwich YOU ARE VERY WELCOME

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

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

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

5 3 CAMPUSES Greenwich Maritime Campus, Greenwich Greenwich Maritime, Eltham London Medway Campus, Chatham Kent University of Greenwich

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

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

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)

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

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.)

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)

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.

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

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)

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)

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 ?

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?

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

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

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)

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)

22 EPA Curriculum Development Seminar University of Greenwich, June 2010 Dissemination Event, UNIBEN, 5 Oct 2010 Dissemination Event, UoG, 18 Feb 2011

23 UK-Nigeria Universities Postgraduate Employability Network (UNUPEN) WORKING TOGETHER WORKS ! http://www.eeespec.org/unupen/members.htm

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 postgraduate employability

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.

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

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

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

29 u Sustaining work of UNUPEN through partnership with stakeholders (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

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

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 .

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..

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)

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)

University of Greenwich THANK YOU

36 The End

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University of Greenwich YOU ARE VERY WELCOME ………