1. Chairman, NAAT, EKSU Branch
THE POSITION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGISTS, EKSU BRANCH ON
THE CHALLENGES OF BUILDING A WOLRD CLASS AND SERVICE INTENSIVE UNIVERSITY
Presented by
Engr. Awogbemi, Omojola
Chairman, NAAT, EKSU Branch On
Thursday, 4th February, 2016

2. I N T R O D U C T I O N
The state of the academics as presently run in our dear University leaves much to be desired. This summit could not have come at a better time to address and redress these shortcomings.
If, indeed, our goal is to build a world class university, we should rise from this summit with a resolve to change the way and manner we have been doing some things in our university. We have to begin to adopt global best practices in our actions and approach.
We cannot be doing things the same way all the time and expect a different result.

3. I N T R O D U C T I O N SAC factor
As Academic Technologists, we perform our duties in the Laboratories, Workshops, Studios & Equipment Maintenance Centres.
This presentation will try, as much as possible, not to repeat all that has been said since this summit began, but will focus on some identified problems and recommend appropriate solutions. The identified areas are:
Curriculum Review
Manpower
Training and Retraining
Laboratory infrastructure and facilities
Methods of equipment acquisition
Mutual Respect
SAC factor

4. Curriculum Review Recommendation
Some of the curricula in some departments particularly in the Faculties of Science and Engineering, where Academic Technologists operates, are old, obsolete and not in tune with modern realities.
Recommendation
Courses like Autotronics, Mechatronics, Biotechnology, Renewable Energy Technology, Agrotronics, e-Agriculture, Nano Technology, ICT, Internet and Cyber Security etc needs to be introduced to make our graduates competes favourably in the world market.
Department like Mathematical Sciences needs to be splitted to Mathematics and Computer Science with options in Maths. & Statistics, Maths. & Computer Sci. , Computer Sci. & Physics, etc
Some of our courses rebranded to make it more appeling to prospective students.

5. Manpower Recommendations Faculty of Education Nil Faculty of Arts Nil
Acad. Techs. are grossly inadequate in our labs. & w/shops both in quantity and quality. The ratio of Acad. Techs/Lecturers/Students are too high. For example.
Faculty of Education Nil
Faculty of Arts Nil
Equipment Maintenance Centre Nil
Faculty of clinical Sciences, COM Nil
Computer Engrg. dept Nil
Faculty of Agricultural sciences One Acad Tech
Mechanical Engrg dept One Acad Tech
Recommendations
More qualified Acad. Techs should be employed to boost the quality of training.
The current sinister trend of employing 3rd class or pass graduates as Acad. Techs. should be stopped.

6. Training and Re-training
Acad. Technologists are at the heart of Sci. & Tech-based research in any University, the quality of Acad Techs will impact greatly on the quality of research outputs from the labs.
As at today, Acad. Techs have been exempted from any form of training
Recommendations
Academic Technologists should be exposed to regular and up to date trainings, both locally and internationally, to keep them abreast of the latest methodology for teaching and research.

7. Laboratory infrastructure & facilities
Labs & W/shop infrastructure & facilities are grossly inadequate and obsolete to cater for the ever increasing number of student.
Most labs & w/shops do not have water thereby making teaching and research nearly impossible.
Most Acad Techs do not have offices and comfortable furniture. Comparing the office of a Chief Tech with that of a PAR or SL is like comparing life and death.
Recommendations
Massive infrastructural and facilities upgrade is needed in our Labs & W/shops.
State of the art equipment that are necessary for teaching and cutting edge research should be procured particularly at the Central Laboratory namely soil test equipment, material & metallurgy analysis equipment, fuel and exhaust gas analyzers, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, Numerically Controlled machine tools.

8. Method of equipment acquisition
The current method of equipment acquisition where end users are not carried along is counter productive. This had resulted in purchasing equipment not needed.
Most suppliers and vendors have no requisite knowledge of the equipment they are to supply. They end up supplying refurbished equipment instead of new equipment that was paid for.
Recommendations
Acad Techs should be involved in the process leading to acquisition of lab/workshop equipment.
Directorate of Procurement should be empowered to purchase this specialized equipment, with the active involvement of Acad Techs.
Training of Acad Techs on the use the new equipment should be included in the contract terms, and activated

9. Mutual respect
The current practice of Master–Servant relationship especially between Acad Techs and Lecturers is not only uncalled for but also unhealthy and creating unnecessary tension in the system.
A situation where some people wants to be Lecturers and Acad. Techs. at the same time, by teaching in class and conducting practical classes for students in the laboratory, thereby turning the Acad Techs, in such labs & workshops to mere errand boy is not good.

10. Recommendations
Every category staff should be appreciated for his/her duty and contribution. Building a world class university cannot be achieved in an environment of suspicion, distrust, and I-know-it-all.
Acad. Techs, by their training are more versed in practicals and conduct of experiments and should be allowed to perform such duties. The current practice, in some departments, where Lecturers carry out experiments or use their PG students to grade experimental works of students is not tidy and should be abolished.
Acad Techs, been a permanent member of the dept/faculty, should be allowed to attend deptal meetings while the most senior Chief Technologists in each department should be allowed to attend Faculty board meetings. This will ensure that implementable decisions about labs & w/shops are taken towards building a world class university.

11. As I CONCLUDE
Stable Academic Calendar (SAC) is unarguably one of the most needed ingredient in building a world class and service intensive university.
As staff unions, we are ready to cooperate with government/management to ensure SAC , provided:
Staff welfare are accorded the topmost priority.
Governments, at various levels, honour all agreements willingly entered into with unions
Management honours agreement reached with the unions at the branch level.
Management should not see unions as terrorists, who are always out to cause problems, but as partners in progress.
Management should endeavour to carry along union leaders in decisions that affect staff.

12. F I N A L L Y
Building a world class university will not be achieved just by Council and Senate decisions, networking the entire campus and student hostels with reliable internet and intranet facilities, producing cutting-edge researches, erecting skyscrapers as offices and lecture rooms, constructing a well equipped laboratories and workshops, having a well stocked physical & e-libraries, having a good VC & management but more importantly by maintaining a happy and well motivated members of staff.

13. Thank You For Your Attention