MTU Academic Planning Unit Holds Capacity Building Workshop ... Calls for urgent need to prepare tertiary students for he 21st century economy

The Director, Academic Planning (DAP), Mountain Top University, Dr. Mojeed Mu hammed Ologundudu, has emphasised the need to prepare University Students for the 21st Century Economy. Speaking during the Capacity Building Workshop organised by the Academic Planning Unit titled “21st Century University Curriculum Review”, Dr. Ologundudu noted that the current economy in Ni geria, and the world as a whole, is the Digital Economy.

The Capacity Building Workshop was for the Aca demic Staff of Mountain Top University (MTU). The workshop was held on Friday, January 21st, 2022. The Vice-Chancellor, Mountain Top University, Prof. Elijah A. Ayolabi, was ably represented by Prof. Gabriel Ajayi. Speaking during the Capacity Building Workshop, Prof. Ayolabi noted that the development of staff members is a necessity and of relevance for the actualization of the Vision and Mission of the University. According to him, “In a few years, the Institution will be having another Accreditation Exercise. As such, there is a need for the Curriculum to be reviewed, and this is the rea son why the Director of Academic Planning has organised this program”.

The Guest Speaker of the day was the Director, Academic Planning & Quality Assurance, Redeemer’s University,Ede, Prof. Emmanuel Unuabo nah. He spoke on “University Curric ulum vs NUC Benchmark Minimum Academic Stand ard (BMAS)”. Prof. Unuabonah, in his address, stated that “Curriculum is the tool we use in developing our Product while Curriculum Development is a process by which the University assures the quality of the courses that it offers to students”. According to him, “NUC Benchmark is the minimum and as such, there is room to be innovative”.

The 2nd Speaker at the event was the Director, Aca demic Planning (DAP), Mountain Top University, Dr. Mojeed Muhammed Ologundudu. He spoke on “Programme Design, Curriculum Development and Domain of Learning in the Nigerian University System (NUS)”. In his presentation, Dr. Ologundudu stated that “Bloom’s Taxonomy presents a system for clas sifying educational objectives into three broad categories (Cognitive, Affective and Psychomotor) called Domains of Learning”. The 3rd Speaker was the Deputy Director, Academic Planning (DAP), Mountain Top University, Dr. Omowunmi Kayode. She spoke on “21st Century Innovative Skills for Students”. Dr. Kayode mentioned that “Today, 21st Century educators are still trying to teach students with obsolete mission statements”. According to her, “Today’s learners are different. They think and process infor mation funda mentally differ ent from their predecessors”. Dr. Mojeed Ologundudu made the final presentation on the topic: “Preparing University Students for the 21st Centu ry Economy”. According to him, “To equip students with appropriate skills, industries and univer sities should collaborate on Curriculum Design, Implementation and Evaluation”. The workshop was rounded off with a vote of thanks given by Dr. Omowunmi Kayode, the Deputy Director, Academic Planning. She expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Elijah A. Ayolabi, for providing the enabling environment and support for the work shop and also thanked the members of staff in attendance.