A team from the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) on accreditation visit to Departments of Chemical Engineering and Electrical and Information Engineering, Covenant University, has called for renewed scrutiny of engineering programme curriculum with the goal of repositioning the profession for global relevance.
The Team Lead, Dr Felicia Agubata (FNSE), said accreditation of engineering programmes is a major mandate of the Council, intending to enhance quality assurance and ensure that graduates of engineering programmes in all tertiary institutions in the country are sound, functional and efficient engineering personnel who can meet the challenges of the present and future society, and have the capacity to compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world.
Dr Agubata said the Council's attention had been drawn to the general outcry by employers of labour, to the persistent skills shortage whereby academically sound engineering graduates are unable to express practical functionality on their jobs, thus creating a disconnect between what is taught and that which is expected of engineering graduates on the field. "Outcome-Based Education (OBE) is the missing link that will address these concerns. Thus, COREN adopting the OBE learning methodology for engineering programmes in Nigeria," she added.
She noted that the adoption of the OBE would pave the way for the internationalisation of the Nigerian engineering qualifications and improvement of the quality, proficiency and global mobility of engineers in Nigeria, as a result of the Council's affiliation with the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP).
Dr Agubata, who led an 8-man team on the exercise, said the Council is working hard to improve engineering education and training. COREN's accreditation exercise is for partnership and growth, not for witch-hunting. "It is aimed at building, not destroying: it is also a very strict process; firm, but fair," she posited.
She commended the University Management for the robust curriculum used within the University system that has reflected positively in the lifestyle of her graduates and their comportment in the world of work. According to her, "Your products are distinct and unique in their disposition and conduct in the world of work. I have encountered them, and they stand different when compared to their peers. No doubt, you are doing something great and unique here that is in line with your vision of raising a new generation of leaders," he stated.
In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo, represented by the Registrar, Dr Oluwasegun Omidiora, commended COREN for putting together a robust team, cutting across the academia and industry, to undertake a huge national assignment like the accreditation exercise of engineering programme in the University, at such an auspicious time in the nation.
Dr Omidiora assured the team of the readiness of the University's Management and the eggheads in the College of Engineering to avail them the necessary cooperation towards making a success of the whole exercise.
He told the team from COREN that the University recognised the importance of every accreditation exercise, thus Management's readiness to give the group every assistance needed to better reposition the profession of engineering, not just in Covenant, but the nation at large, if unnecessary engineering and structural disaster must be curtailed.
Present at the courtesy visit were the Director, Financial Services, Pastor Gbenga Kiki, Director, Centre for Learning Resources, Dr Mercy Iroaganachi, Dean, College of Engineering, Professor David Omole, Heads of Departments of Chemical Engineering and Electrical and Information Engineering, Professor Vincent Efeovbokhan and Professor Emmanuel Adetiba, Director, Vice-Chancellor's Office, Dr Omotayo Osibanjo, and Dr Kennedy Okokpujie.