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INTRODUCTION.
As stated in its
Academic Brief, the University is to be guided by the following
philosophy, vision and mission.
(i) Philosophy
The University is to
ensure the production of graduates that are not only readily employable
but capable of generating employment by making use of the vast natural
resources available in the State.
(ii) Vision
This is the emergence
of AKUTECH as an institution devoted to the vigorous pursuit of
productive scientific and technological research and development (R & D),
which is focused to address the socio – economic problems of Akwa Ibom
State, especially the urgent need to transform the State from a Civil
Service orientation to an industrialized status.
(iii) Mission
The mission of the
University is to attain specific objectives which are expressed in a set
of objects specified in its Enabling Law.
2. It is generally
agreed that in order to ensure compliance with the imperatives of the
above philosophy and vision to deliver the mission as indicated, the
academic and professional programmes of the University must be R and D
–driven and industry – linked such that its R and D effort effectively
supports sustainable production in the economy of the State, through
industrial linkages based largely on market – driven and end – user
oriented projects.
3. The above
philosophy, vision and vision essentially require that the University
develops such that its R and D activities exert a strong guiding
influence on graduate studies and undergraduate academic programmes.
Essentially therefore, the development of the University is from the top
downwards.
4. Furthermore,
the University is to rely, as soon as possible, mainly on contract R and
D industry – related projects for the sustainable funding of its
programmes. This approach to tertiary
technological education has received both national and international
acclaim, by which the planning of the institution has been described as
that for a 21st century University of Technology which is
unique for West Africa.
5. It is important
to emphasize that, in line with the above considerations, the development
of the Academic and Administrative structures and programmes, as well as
the strategies for the operation of the University system, has benefited
immensely from the extensive and informative consultations with over
forty University/agencies worldwide which ensued during the appraisal
visits to these institution by delegations of the erstwhile Establishment
Committee for the University in 2001.
6. Specifically,
the innovations inherent in the structure, organization and focus of the
University drew from the following observations of the delegations of the
Establishment Committee during the academic visits, as stated in the
Academic Brief of the University:
(i) The
Economies of the World industrial giants are knowledge – driven.
(ii) The
Universities that back the knowledge – driven economic advancement of
these countries emphasize research and development (R and D) activities
which are supported and largely financed by industries.
(iii) These
Universities are uniquely structured, academically and administratively,
to facilitate R and D collaboration between them and industry. They
adopt the multiple Deputy Vice – Chancellors system to decentralize
University administration and ensure that industrial linkages,
international collaboration, academic planning and student affairs are
handled by high – level academics who report to the Vice Chancellor.
Also, the Schools have their own separate Graduate Schools that report
directly to Senate, instead of a University – wide Postgraduate School.
(iv) The
main source of funds to these Universities is that generated by academic
and research staff, via the commercial enterprises of the institutions.
(v) The
system is almost completely computerized, thereby trimming down on
personnel and hence enhancing management efficiency.
(vi) Most
of these Universities have no industrial unions and no history of
strikes, since all personnel are concerned with the performance and
management of industrially - funded projects and contracts and are
continuously engage and adequately remunerated.
These were the key
issues which guided the unique features of AKUTECH as a University of
Technology which is intended to function as a prime mover of
technological and industrial transformation, not only in the State but
also in Nigeria as a whole.
7. It is in the
effort to ensure that AKUTECH fulfills this role that the foregoing
considerations have been adequately conveyed in the Final Reports of both
the erstwhile Establishment and Implementation Committees of the
University and captured in both its Academic Brief and Enabling Law.
Furthermore, with regard to AKUTECH, the advantages of the Academic and
Administrative structures specified have been clearly identified in the
Academic Brief and accepted by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
II. GENERAL
OBSERVATIONS
8. The unique
features of AKUTECH have been fully identified in the Academic Brief. It
is stated, inter-alia, therein in Section 3.1.2 that;
‘’Features of the
administrative structures, which may be considered to be innovative
within the Nigerian national University system include:
(a) the
arrangement by which all Schools (including each of the Engineering
Schools) have their Graduate Schools attached to them and report
individually to Senate;
(b) the
appointment of Deputy Vice – Chancellors in charge of (i) Student
Affairs (ii) International Affairs and Industrial Cooperation and (iii)
Development, Planning and Management Control .
These positions have
been established in addition to the usual DVCs for Academic Affairs and
Administration. The resulting arrangement decentralizes the University
administration……’’
9. Also
‘’ ……the establishment of the Schools and their semi -autonomous status
with regard to their responsibilities to Senate are already standard in
leading Universities world wide which share the same orientation as the
proposed University ……’’ Provisions had been made for five DVCs, in line
with the decentralization which is characteristic of modern University
administration in technological research – driven Universities with
strong industrial orientation.
III CONCLUSION
10. From the
foregoing considerations, it is clear that the unique structure and
organization specified for AKUTECH are vital for the effective and
efficient delivery of the programmes of this University, in line with its
philosophy, vision and mission. Specifically, the five DVCs, with their
stated responsibilities, by their positions, are the operational R&D –
driven guides of the administrative machinery of the University, while
operating under the overall supervision of the Vice Chancellor as the
Chief Executive.
11. Also to be
emphasized, for the reasons already stated, are:
(i) the concept of
Principal Officers of the University, who are identified in the Enabling
Law (First Schedule) as the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Vice Chancellor
and the five Deputy Vice Chancellors and
(ii) The
concept of separate Graduate Schools for each of the eight Schools of the
University.
12. Finally, it is
to be observed that any vitiation of the organization and structure of
the University, as specified, through the dilution or removal of its
unique features, cannot but abort the ethos and delivery machinery of the
University, reverting it, as a consequence, to a conventional tertiary
institution.
Uyo.
April, 2007.
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