BRIEF ON UNIVERSITY BOARD OF RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION
The University Board of Research is a statutory body of the University .The Deputy Vice- Chancellor is the statutory chairman of the Board but a substantive chairman has always been appointed by the Vice- Chancellor since its inception.
MEMBERSHIP
The membership is made up of the following:
Vice-Chancellor Nominee- Chairman
Two Senate members
Chairman of each School Board of Research Sub – committee (Deans of Schools)
Representative of Library
IN ATTENDANCE
Registrar or his Representative
Bursar or his Representative
Secretary
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Board‘s terms of reference as contained in the University’ calendar (1999-2001, Pg 32-33) are
I To advise Senate on;
- The priorities for and the co-ordination of research work.
- The financial need of research work, and
- The making of grafts from the University Research Fund
ii To constitute sub-committee to process application for University research award, and to approve application, and in accordance with procedures approved by senate.
iii To promote the development of research work by
- Initiating University research projects for the solution of problems not being dealt with by existing organizations.
- Encouraging and assisting the co-operatives development of multi-disciplinary research projects.
- Acting as a link with outside scholars and bodies.
- To advise department or members of staff on request on the probable implication of research work of the University’s external relationships.
- To request and receive annual research reports or summaries from all parts of the University and distributing them to interested persons and
- To act as clearing house for information problems works in progress.
- To submit reports when appropriate to senate on the committee’s work and summaries of research reports.
SCHOOL BOARD OF RESEARCH SUB-COMMITTEE.
Provision is equally made that each school shall establish a sub-committee of the Board of Research.
MEMBERSHIP is made up of the following:
Dean - Chairman
One member from each department.
A representative of the University Librarian
IN ATTENDANCE
Secretary, School Secretary, Head of Departments submitting research proposals.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
i. To receive and consider applications from research awards from staff of the School.
ii To recommend applications from the award of research units to the University Board of Research using guideline set by the Board.
iii To deal with any other matter that may be referred to it by the University Board of Research and , or the Vice- Chancellor.
PAST CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.
As stated earlier, the statutory chairman of the Board is the Deputy Vice- Chancellor. However a substantive Chairman is usually appointed from the Senior Academia to directly oversee the affairs of the Board.
The Chairmen of the Board from 1994 - January 2008 are as follows:
1. Prof. S.A. Garba 1994 - 1998
2. Prof D.O.Adefolalu 1999 - 2004
3. Prof.O.O.A.Fasanya 2004 - 2007
4 Prof. M.A.T.Suleiman Nov 2007 Jan 2008
5. Prof. D.A.Muazu March 2008 Till Date
RESEARCH PROPOSALS
All staff especially Academic staff are entitled to submit vibrant research proposals to the Board for research grants. Any non-academic staff wishing to submit research proposals for consideration may forward the same to the Board sub-committee of any School, which in his/her judgment he/she considers closest to his/her area of interest.
No staff on staff fellowship shall be eligible for the award of the University Board of Research award simultaneously.
RESEARCH PROJECTS APPRAISAL COMMITTEE
This committee was constituted in June 2007 with the mandate to:-
- Help monitor approved projects and the utilization of released fund of such project by beneficiaries.
- Advice the Board appropriately on the beneficiaries such that future allocations will be adequately guided. To ensure that the research of the institution is protected and projected at appropriate times.
- Help sustain the culture of research in the University.
MEMBERS of the committee:
Dr. S. Sadiku SEET Chairman
Dr. M.G.M.Kolo SAAT Member
Dr. (Mrs.) S.Zubairu SET Member
Dr B.E.N. Dauda SSSE Member
Since membership of this committee cuts across all schools the committee is better placed to vet all research proposals emanating from the schools and consequently advise the Board on such proposals. This committee was inaugurated in Nov 2007.
RESEARCH GRANT
Receipts and approval of proposals are done by the Board after assessment and review have been carried out through due process i.e. passing through the school sub-committee and the Research Projects Committee
When the Board finally approves any research proposal, 50% of the approved amount is initially released to the researchers through Bursary. The remaining balance of 50% is paid to the beneficiary after submitting a progress report and retiring the initial 50% of the grant.
FUNDING / FINANCIAL STATUS.
The Board gets its fund from the following sources;
- 5% statutory allocation of University budget to research
- External from private organization sponsoring specific research work in the University i.e. Unipetrol Plc sponsored production of Typhoid Fever Vaccine.
- Government Agencies i.e. National University Commission, Raw Materials and Research Development Council. Etc.
The Bursary Department is the custodian of and handles all financial aspects of the Board.
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE BOARD.
Since the Board‘s main mandate centers on Research within the University, it is then pertinent to judge its success or otherwise by the number of research work that have been carried out since inception.
The following are number of and amount expended on projects conducted from 1994 to 2007 by researchers in all schools.
SEE APPENDIX A ATTACHED
It is evident from above that a lot of laudable achievement in term of research work had been recorded in various fields within and outside the University.
The University had recorded a lot of successes in its exhibition outing. These include the Nigeria Universities Research Development Fair (NURESDEF) Fair held in Abuja in 2004 and 2005 respectively. The University through different research project got the following awards.
In 2004 NURESDEF outing, the University won the following awards:
- University Participation Award
- Outstanding Contribution Award
- Certificate of Excellence for Typhoid Fever Vaccine.
In 2005 NURESDEF, THE University was awarded Certificate of Distinction.
The Fish For All Summit held in 2005 earned the University Certificate of Excellence which was awarded to Prof. S.O.E. Sadiku and Dr. S.M.Tsadu all of WAFT department of the University.
A total of 252 research projects have been carried out from period under review i.e. 1994-2007. This marks a remarkable achievement in terms of research activities within and outside the University.
Some of these researches are individual while majority are collaborative research thereby promoting inter-departmental/school collaboration within the system.
The University recently took part in the 2007 edition of NURESDEF that took place at the University of Lagos 26th – 28th March 2008. The University was awarded Certificate of Participation. It was a successful outing.
More research work can equally be encouraged by applauding researchers that have excelled in their field of endeavor.
In view of the problems on research proposals, the Board in Collaboration with the Academic Planning Unit and Directorate for Collaboration, Affiliation and Linkages held a 2 day in- house workshop on Thursday 24th and January 2008.
THE WORKSHOP
A workshop on research and linkages was organized for the academic staff and postgraduate student to achieve the following.
- Sensitization of the University staff and student on the total commitment of the University to research and development activities.
- Create awareness on reservoir of linkages opportunities existing both locally and internationally waiting to be tapped.
- Formation of Research syndicates to sustain the much needed research revolution in University of Technology like ours.
- The workshop produced six research and linkages group on
- Energy
- Environmental
- Biotechnology/Genetic Engineering
- Space
- ICT and
- Human Capacity Building.
This workshop has to a great extent sensitized the academic staff on writing and submitting vibrant research proposals and other related issues.
Awareness has equally been made on abundant-available research grants waiting to be utilized by researchers from different agencies globally.
PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
In spite of laudable achievement outlined, the Board is still basseted with some attendant problems with particular reference to research drive in the University and insufficient funding for specialized research.
It is evident that research in the past few years has been on the decline due to poor research attitude and general show of interest by the staff.
This then makes the clarion call to submit vibrant research proposals very crucial at the moment. However, these submissions can only be achieved when researchers know the importance and achievements derivable. There is therefore the need to sensitize researchers on the need to submit vibrant research proposals for consideration by the Board.
Despite the meager fund accruing to the Board, linkages could be made through the appropriate Unit when there are relevant proposals. Thus, there is equally the need to improve on fund accruing to the Board so that more research submissions can be considered.
There is urgent need to have a modality to ensure that researchers make their progress and final project submissions when due. Except in some peculiar cases where unforeseen circumstances interfere with research work, it is evident that all submissions are usually being made late and behind schedule.
The University has recorded a lot of success on research projects. However, it had all ended there without utilization for any benefit. The results should be utilized to impact positively on mankind or the entire society. For instance the Typhoid Fever Vaccine that won an award in the 2004 NURESDEF Fair have been abandoned until recently that an attempt was made toward its commercialization. If this is achieved, it can go a long way in solving and curing Typhoid Fever disease not just within the nation but worldwide.
To promote and sustain the research drive of the University, mini research exhibitions can be carried out from time to time. If and when this is sustained, whenever a call or need to go out for exhibitions arises, the Board already has a data bank from which to improve on for such external exhibitions. This will go a long way to enhance and facilitate prompt readiness towards showcasing the University’s achievement in terms of research.
It is hoped that there will be more research work in the University to propel more development in the entire society. Thus, more result- oriented research and consequently development can be attained through a vibrant Search Board within the University. |
