A delegation from the National Universities Commission on an accreditation visit to the Department of Languages, Covenant University has commended the department and university's leadership for putting the programme on a sound footing towards delivering maximally for students and researchers in the department.
Professor Joy Eyisi, the team's lead, said the programme's philosophy and objectives are well articulated for the training and production of the right calibre of graduates required for a bachelor's in English, with a curriculum that is suitable and adequate for the programme.
Professor Eyisi, who came in the company of Professor Ngozi Chima-Ude and Rahamat Sani, extolled the compliance level of the departmental admission processes, the establishment of strong academic regulations to guide the students in their yearly engagement all the way through graduation, and a standard and rigorous course evaluation process that is worth applauding.
The team noted that their interaction with students in the department confirms the adequacy of their course contents, learning materials, course delivery, and physical facilities. "Your students’ spoken and written English is up to the mark expected of tutors in a language department," Professor Eyisi added.
She appreciated the governance system that is in place, from a quality assurance structure to a robust external examiner system that attracts notable professors of English with reports of high quality. In addition, the team commended the staff mix in the department and the developmental programme instituted for staff development.
Professor Eyisi showered encomiums on the Management for creating appropriate conditions for research and collaboration, with some multidisciplinary engagement, and for the good employer ratings of graduates of the department.
Similarly, another team on accreditation for the Department of Estate Management, led by Professor Charles Egolum, commended the department’s external examination system, noting that experienced and qualified academics and assessors of the professorial cadre were engaged in moderation of the examination system of the department.
Professor Egolum said he was impressed by the quality assurance mechanism in place at the departmental, college, and university levels to ensure professionalism in driving the programme. He praised the Department Head, Professor Mayowa Ajibola, for her efficiency and effectiveness in providing academic leadership in the department, which he noted has evolved a camaraderie work and learning environment among the department's faculty, staff, and students.
He applauded the learning resources available in the departmental and university libraries, noting that the holdings at both libraries are of good quality and quantity in terms of recommended textbooks, journals, and other resources relevant to the programme.
Professor Egolum, who was accompanied to the exercise by Professor M.O. Bello and Mrs. Irene Ofangbon, said they were impressed with the research and collaborative endeavours of the department. "There is evidence of multi-disciplinary collaboration in research by staff with peers within and outside the University, and published results of such research collaborations are visible online." This is commendable," he averred.
He noted that the delegation was satisfied with the tracer system in place in the department, which highlights the feedback from employers and industry professionals on the performance of the products of the programme.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo, extolled the team for the depth of quality they brought to bear on the assignment. Professor Adebayo said the University Management is always enthusiastic about the accreditation and resource verification exercises as they always avail themselves of the privilege of getting an objective assessment from outsiders’ perspectives on the quality of the institution.
Professor Adebayo said the University’s staff development programme of the University was stymied during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown but is gradually coming up again with the opening of international borders to many nations. The staff development and training programme will gain traction again.
Covenant University, he said, invests over N 400 million a year in library resources and will continue to do so, particularly in areas where the team has recommended additional resources.
Professor Adebayo thanked Professor Eyisi, Professor Egolum and members of their teams for the thoroughness and attention to details injected into this national assignment. He appreciated their contribution towards improving Covenant University's academic system, processes, and for proffering suggestions to boost the enrolment strength of these programmes.