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 Nigerias Academia ID: 618853
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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 AfricaSlide2
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…Slide3
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 scholarshipSlide4
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.Slide5
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
CollaborationSlide6
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..Slide7
Needs of NG..
Interpersonal skills
Continuing engagement with own field of research
A personal mentorSlide8
Practicalities
The role of mentors
linking experienced colleagues with those of less experience to assist in training
building capacity in peers
w
alking alongside; eat-out
o
ffering encouragement and advice
b
uilding confidence
p
roviding an empowering and affirming milieu.Slide9
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 opportunitiesSlide10
Challenges …
Survival instincts
Yahoo-Yahoo mentality [‘
Igbu
ozu
ideology’]
New Ideas – Technological age – dynamic world
19
th
in 21
st
ideas
Funding landscape tighteningSlide11
Characteristics of Graduate Students
Flexibility
Optimism
Motivation
Persistence and perseverance
Strong work ethic
Self-advocacy: ask questions, interact with supervisors and mates
Organisation
Consistency
SupportSlide12
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 CompletionSlide13
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 depressionSlide14
Game Plan … Near Completion
The finish line
Overcome barriers
Plan your next step: do not wait to complete.Slide15
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 skillsSlide16
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!Slide17
Snapshots
Doctoral Studies
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?Slide18
Snapshots
Identifying Fake and Fraudulent Journals
Quantitative and Qualitative data Management:
Stata Software
Nvivo
softwareSlide19
Snapshots
Professionalization
Ethics and values
Conferencing – writing acceptable abstracts for international conferences
Grant making
Preparing your CVSlide20
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!