By Amaechi Agbo

By Amaechi Agbo

Determined to promote teaching efficiency, effective assimilation for the good of the staff and students, the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) is partnering with a United Kingdom-based university, Lancaster University in order to enhance experiential learning.

This was on the table when the management team of Lancaster University visited their ESUT counterparts at the Agbani campus of the university on Wednesday, last week

The Lancaster University delegate was led by the Director of International Research, Prof Kirk Semple who had with him the Director of African Studies, Dr. Akanimo Odon.

The meeting which took place in the VC’s office saw both management teams interact on areas of mutual collaboration with a view to promoting teaching and learning with practical knowledge so as to help the staff better be equipped and offer the students the needed skills to face the larger society after graduation.

The Lancaster University team was introduced by Dr Okwuchukwu Ani, ESUT Coordinator of FCDO, SSETS and ICCP projects of the university.

In his introduction, Dr Ani said the visit by the UK varsity is to collaborate with ESUT in delivering experiential learning through intensive and impactful training in career enhancement and enterprise development for both staff and students in two key programmes.

He noted that ESUT is among the 14 universities in Nigeria selected for the two programmes which include “Stimulating Sustainable Entrepreneurial Thinking (SSETS) for all academic staff and International Career Coaching Programme (ICCP) for all students.

He appraised the just concluded pilot programme for ESUT staff and students as highly impactful stressing that as much as entrepreneurial thinking skills have been inculcated on ESUT staff and students

Dr. Ani appreciated Lancaster University for choosing ESUT as a hub for the pilot phase.

Participants during the pilot programme were trained on the strategies of effective collaborative network and partnership with other professionals from other disciplines, other Nigerian universities and colleagues from other universities globally.

Lecturers were taught on how to activate and increase activities on their LinkedIn social media accounts to enhance their global visibility for possible impactful collaborations and research partnerships. Students in ICCP were taught how to package a wonderful curriculum vitae, how to build the CV while on campus by rendering volunteer services to their lecturers. Students were also educated on how to enhance their Curriculum Vitae even while on campus by joining in volunteers services

In his remark, the Director of International Research, Lancaster University, Prof Kirk Semple appreciated the VC and ESUT for embracing the FCDO programme. He informed the management that Lancaster University was ready to go into extended partnership with ESUT for the delivery of the needed and relevant practical training of ESUT staff and students on career enhancement and entrepreneurial thinking.

Responding, the Vice Chancellor, ESUT, Professor Aloysius Michaels Okolie commended Dr Okwuchukw Ani for his foresight in bringing the Lancaster University to ESUT. He described the collaboration as a catalyst to technological and entrepreneurial path.  

“First and foremost, let me start by thanking Dr Ani for thinking home. For keying into the vision of the management in enhancing staff and students welfare in learning. To our August visitors and partners from Lancaster University in UK, you are welcome to ESUT. Your visit here highlights the importance of collaboration and partnership in promoting education across the globe and I want to assure you that you are in the right place.

“At ESUT, career development is critical both for the staff and students and we are channeling resources in this regard. Therefore, this collaboration on experiential learning is not just timely but very critical as it will help us in championing effective and all-round education for the students which is in line with the State Government’s vision of ensuring that all tertiary institutions in Enugu State embrace experiential learning to foster employability of the graduates of higher institutions in the state,” the VC said.