By Our Reporter
Vice-Chancellors from universities across Nigeria have visited the University of Birmingham as part of a high-profile global workshop focussed on boosting their institutions engagement with communities.
Representatives from the University of Birmingham addressed the Committee of Vice-chancellors of Nigerian Universities’ (CVCNU) workshop, which was held in Birmingham city centre.
Speakers from the University shared their experience across a range of topics at the event – including community development, income generation from events and public engagement. The Nigerian delegates then took a tour of the University’s Edgbaston campus.
Professor Yakuba Ochefu, Secretary General, CVCNU commented: “Our current fourth industrial revolution is forcing higher education establishments to re-invent themselves and re-think many of our time-tested ways of teaching, learning and research. We are learning so much from institutions such as the University of Birmingham and are so pleased to learn from their experience in connecting with communities, as well as exploring their beautiful UK campus.”
The two-day workshop, presided over by Professor Lilian Salami, Chairperson CVCNU and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, saw people take part in group discussions, presentations, and simulations. The event aimed to examine various dimensions of organisational success in the era of Education 4.0 – comparing real-life experiences, identifying best practices, and equipping participants with the tools to tackle the challenges facing Nigerian universities.
Delegates examined issues including how universities could act as transformative spaces for learning – giving graduates the skills to solve complex problems and become more entrepreneurial in an ever-changing digital economy.
They also examined new developments in transnational education and how to progress creative educational exchange programmes, as well as improving the student experience and connecting effectively with alumni communities.
University of Birmingham Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Robin Mason gave a keynote address at the event. He commented: “It was a delight to welcome the Vice-Chancellors’ delegation to our city, as well as showing our guests around our beautiful and ever-developing campus, and to share our experiences of higher education in Nigeria and the UK.
“The University of Birmingham is a civic university with a global outlook, and we have many strong ties to Nigeria, both in education and research partnerships. Sharing best practice and experience is an excellent way of supporting and connecting the global higher education community as we face common challenges together.”
The CVCNU was established in 1962 by the Vice-Chancellors of the then-existing Federal and Regional Universities, as a forum for discussing problems affecting the universities, exchanging information and ideas on resolving local challenges and taking common positions on implementing Government policies and directives on Higher Education.