By Amaechi Agbo

As part of its strategic planning in ensuring swift implementation of the experiential learning policy in ESUT, the Entrepreneurship Centre (EDC) on Wednesday held a one-day Teach-the-teacher workshop aimed at equipping the EDC facilitators with requisite know-how on how to upscale the students’ experiential abilities.  

Declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chancellor. Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie reminded the facilitators of their cardinal role in ensuring that students upgraded their skills outside their academic pursuit.

Professor Okolie who commended the Director of the EDC, Professor Jude Udenta and his team for their efforts in revolutionising the centre, said that the implementation of the 2023Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) emphasizes hands-on teaching methodology with 70% practical and 30% theory.

The VC who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chike Nwoha, Tasked the facilitators to be “more committed, sacrificial in your service and ensure you give the students the best.”

“When we visited Germany last month, we noticed that students hardly spend much time in the classroom. Everything is practical. Everybody is always in a hurry to be in the field, their educational system is rooted on practical application of knowledge such that before graduation, they are already engaged productively. I believe we can replicate the model here and EDC would be the vanguard,” the VC said.

Earlier in his opening address, The Director of EDC, Professor Jude Udenta said the workshop became imperative in view of the fact that the new academic session has started and the facilitators needed to be retrained ahead of the demands of the academic year adding that the target of the EDC in the new session is to produce all the departmental wears and lab clothes for students.

“We are in a new academic programme and the workshop is our own way of keying into the experiential learning policy of the Vice-Chancellor. The essence of the Entrepreneurship Development Centre in all universities in the country is to ensure that talents are put into use especially now that we are in 21^st century and the land is still green. We are trying to make sure that our students graduate as job creators not job seekers.

“We want the teachers to be focused and students to learn effectively. Last year, the Governor came here and he was happy about the shoes we produced and he patronised us.

“Our target is to produce the departmental wears and lab clothes of every department in ESUT and that is why we need to reorient the facilitators and ensure that the teachers have proper value as they go into the classrooms. It is all about value addition and we thank the management for approving the programme and we hope the facilitators would make the best use of the workshop,” he said.

Speaking on the topic: “Venture Creation and the CCMAS: What the Teacher should Know” one of the facilitators, Dr Felecia Nwokike emphasised the need for the teachers to lay emphasis on application of technology in providing solutions to human needs. She pointed out that the 21^st century students should be appears with the digital tools so as to enhance their experiential growth. 

On her part, another facilitator, Dr Nenye Onyeabor, speaking on “Understanding Value Proposition (Pitching)” dwelt on the importance of teachers going beyond the surface to explore hidden skills of students and maximise output. She urged the teachers to encourage students to always picth their ideas so as to express themselves

The Deputy Director, EDC, Professor Chris Orga, who spoke on the topic “Managing Skills: Understanding Business Plan Writing and Soft Skills in Venture Creation”, advised that students should be encouraged to write down their business plans even if the resources to execute them are not available. He not that by outing down their business ideas, they would encourage to seek for resources to implement them.

Highlight of the workshop display of products produced by the EDC. Some of the products displayed include soap, detergents and cosmetics, as well as shoes