Building the Next Generation of Scholars in Nigeria: Practicalities and Challenges Clifford Odimegwu Professor of Demography and Population Health University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Introduction Where I am coming from: My motivation Who is the Next Generation in Nigeria’s Academia? Changing Dynamics in International Academia or Scholarship What does the NG need to take the position of the retiring generation? Practicalities Challenges Our road map…

Where I am coming from: My Motivation Education at IMSU, Ife 1999 Episode Harvard as eye-opener My Resolve to do things differently Exploits in a foreign land… My disappointment with Igbo/Nigeria scholarship

Who is the next generation? Graduate students – Masters and PhD New and Young academics – GA, AL, L2 and L1, Postdocs, Senior Lecturers Research assistants/associates.

Changing Dynamics in International Academia Globalisation New standards and procedures of doing academic stuff including promotion Internet age New Publication outlets – Open access Journals Journal Categorisation – Impact Factor Younging of Academic Leadership – young professors taking up positions Collaboration

Needs of NG … For the NG of academics to be internationally competitive and globally relevance, the following are their needs Quality Higher degree Credible and quality publications Patents Promotions based on merits Grants International Exposure through conferences and networks/international connection..

Needs of NG.. Interpersonal skills Continuing engagement with own field of research A personal mentor

Practicalities The role of mentors linking experienced colleagues with those of less experience to assist in training building capacity in peers walking alongside; eat-out offering encouragement and advice building confidence providing an empowering and affirming milieu.

Practicalities … Developing a Research Agenda/focus Developing a Research Plan [PhD admission to next 7 years] Rethinking Integrity in Scholarship – all those cutting corners! Professional ethics Ethics of publishing Publishing outcomes: General issues in publishing… Conferencing Proposals and Fund raising Research development opportunities

Challenges … Survival instincts Yahoo-Yahoo mentality [‘Igbu ozu ideology’] New Ideas – Technological age – dynamic world 19th in 21st ideas Funding landscape tightening

Characteristics of Graduate Students Flexibility Optimism Motivation Persistence and perseverance Strong work ethic Self-advocacy: ask questions, interact with supervisors and mates Organisation Consistency Support

Graduate Study Game Plan : 4 stages Getting Started Got to be proactive – review PG and Dpt guidelines contact and interact with your supervisors learn about deadlines Find out and attend all orientation sessions Conduct a review of your career goals and objectives First year Mid-Programme Near Completion

Game Plan …. First Year Identify your career goals Course work Your thesis Ethical clearance, if primary study Mid-Programme Review your progress Present your research Deal with stress and depression

Game Plan … Near Completion The finish line Overcome barriers Plan your next step: do not wait to complete.

Graduate Studies Pathways to Success Gradaute school success: skills in academic writing Self Management: ability to manage stress and time Professional effectiveness: range of skills and knowledge-related to such areas as communication, management, interpersonal interaction and ethical conduct Career building: a proactive approach investigating options, develop competencies and learn how to present yourself Developing leadership skills

Our Road Map.. Working with colleagues at PG School and Faculties, I will focus on the following: Developing a research profile Scientific Publishing Graduate supervision Professional skills empowerment – how to write competitive proposals, CV, and advancement strategies.. Training in Stata Software [if needed] AOM!

Snapshots Doctoral Studies Academics Research Is doing a PhD worth it? What is it like doing a PhD? Academics What makes a good teacher? Managing student-supervisor relationship? Teaching methods? Research Proposal development Scientific writing processes Where do you publish?

Snapshots Identifying Fake and Fraudulent Journals Quantitative and Qualitative data Management: Stata Software Nvivo software

Snapshots Professionalization Ethics and values Conferencing – writing acceptable abstracts for international conferences Grant making Preparing your CV

Finally … The Journey has begun… and with hardwork, it is our hope you will be one of the future leaders of Nigeria intelligentsia that will be internationally competitive, exposed and globally relevant!