How Careers Advice and Guidance can Facilitate Career Development in TVET Graduates: The case in Nigeria

This study examined the current state of careers advice, guidance, and counselling (CAGC) services and programs in the technical, vocational education, and training (TVET) system of Nigerian higher education institutions (HEIs). This was to determine how well current CAGC services and programs foster students’ career development, aspirations, and choices. Forty-eight participants, who were members of the Nigerian National Board for Technical Education (8 participants), guidance counsellors (6), university TVET teachers (18), career experts from the National Directorate of Employment (7), and newly employed TVET graduates (9), volunteered for the study. A purposeful sampling procedure was adopted to recruit participants. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview approach, and we employed a thematic design for the coding and analysis of the transcribed data. The study found no CAGC services and programs in the TVET system. It is recommended, therefore, that TVET systems should focus on providing career development enhanced learning rather than schooling only by revising the curriculum to include programs and activities that promote CAGC activities and programs

Does PhD Qualification Improve Pedagogical Competence? A Study on Teaching and Training in Higher Education

Purpose: There has been much debate in recent times about the factors that improve the quality of teaching in higher education (HE) institutions. This has been especially fuelled by the increasing importance attached to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualification. To fill the existing gap in the current literature in this regard, this study aims to investigate whether HE teachers (lecturers) who undergo pedagogical training (PT) in addition to obtaining PhD qualification possess higher knowledge and pedagogical competencies (PCs) than those that relied only on having PhD qualification without further teaching qualifications. Design/Methodology/Approach: Drawing upon data collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 1174 Nigerian HE teachers in various disciplines from 39 HE institutions, in addition to two focus groups; the study adopts a mixed methods research. The quantitative data were analyzed descriptively while qualitatively data were coded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Findings – This article proposes that teachers who undergo PT in addition to obtaining PhD tend to have more PCs and perform better than those that have not undergone any form of PT. Also, it found a statistically significant difference between PCs of HE teachers who have undergone PT in addition to PhD qualification from those without PT. The implication is that teachers who have undergone PT are more effective in facilitating teaching and learning than those who have not completed PT. Research Limitations/Implications: Despite the merits of the mixed research method, a major limitation of this study is the failure to compare students’ achievements or successes based on the two distinct samples. However, the limitations create opportunities for further studies into the subject matter. Originality/Value – This study is timely, given that Nigeria (like many African countries) has a low quality HE system and low graduate outcomes (related to knowledge, employability, and skills). More so, research into pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and practices are rare or non-existent in the literature related to Nigeria and other African countries’ HE system

Beliefs, taboos and minor crop value chains: the case of Bambara Groundnut in Malawi

Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) is a source of food for smallholder farmers that is increasingly promoted for its drought tolerance, soil enhancing qualities and nutritious properties. Being an accessible crop to smallholders, it has also recently been the focus of support to develop its value chain in Malawi. However, bambara groundnut is featured in the belief systems of rural people in Malawi, and may effect and be effected by market development. Beliefs and taboos reflect the life/death meanings symbolically represented in bambara groundnut, which influences how and by whom the crop is produced and consumed. These practices lend significant control over the crop to women. These findings have important implications for development and market related interventions that work with food crops, which need to be taken into account during the design phase

Improving higher education standards through reengineering in West African universities–A case study of Nigeria

This article examines the context of higher education (HE), policies and challenges in the West African context. A multi-level framework and analysis of reengineering, leading change in complexity, activity-based view of the University Business Model and Pedagogical Content Knowledge enable the development of deep connections between the macro- and meso-level and -micro challenges of Higher Education System (HES). These include elements of effective leadership, structures and curriculum and learning pedagogies. Drawing on the analyses of interviews from 25 overseas trained senior academics from Nigerian universities, a preliminary refinement of the philosophy of reengineering, re-thinking and revaluing the higher education system (HES) is offered. These have traditionally been addressed in a piecemeal perspective in HE policy and the academic literature; such a traditional approach has not been the systematic rethinking advocated in the philosophy of reengineering

Higher Education Role in Producing African Citizens for the Labour Market and Sustainable Development

African debilitating unemployment crisis has been mainly because of the low standard of higher education (HE). Building on’ Postcolonial Theory’ (PT), this article examines the current situation, causes and solutions to African HE challenges. By exploring issues related to over-reliance on outdated curriculum, poor teaching pedagogy, low government expenditure on education and ineffective education policies, we hope to contribute to the knowledge of ways to improve HE, labour force and Sustainable Development (SD). This conceptual article argues that increase in access to HE which has been the policy agenda in the last three decades in many Africa countries is not the solution to the education crisis, rather focus should be on skills development, vocational education and less emphasises on degree qualifications

The Portrayal of Business Leaders in Movies and the Effect on Perceptions

Media Psychologist focuses on the effect of media on human behaviour and its impact. Indeed, the media influences so many people’s behaviour and can manipulate, persuade and pressurise society, along with even controlling the world at times in both positive and negative ways; mentally, physically and emotionally. This article explores the portrayal of business leaders in movies, gender inequality and perceptions. Indeed, many studies focuses on gender discrimination, femininity, masculinity and stereotyping, however, there are few studies regarding the portrayal of businesses and/or its leaders in the media or movies

Improving Learning Outcomes: Implementation of Problem-based Learning in TVET Systems of Nigerian Higher Education

Purpose - This study explores how the implementation of problem-based learning (PBL) in technical and vocational education training (TVET) systems of Nigerian higher education (HE) can enhance quality graduate outcomes. The study also explores the issues and challenges of PBL implementation in the TVET system of Nigerian HE. Design/methodology/approach - This study follows the assumptions of qualitative research. We interviewed 55 participants and had a focus group with 7 TVET postgraduate students. The 55 interviewees were drawn from TVET teachers (n =33; 24 males and 9 females), Directors at National Board for Technical Education (n=4; 3 males and 1 female), Directors of National Directorate of Employment (n=5; 3 males and 2 females), Directors at the Federal Ministry of Education (n=3 males), and Industry executives (n=10; 7 males and 3 females). Data were collected through a semi-structured interview approach, transcribed and coded using Nvivo 12 plus, and analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings - The results show that PBL in the Nigerian TVET system has positive implications for quality TVET graduate outcomes in that it can enable integrating theory and practice, motivate learning, improve students' self-efficacy, allow students to construct learning on their own, enhance graduate competencies and graduate employability. It also revealed six perceived possible major challenges to effective implementation of PBL in the Nigerian TVET system which includes inadequacy of teaching and learning facilities; corruption in Nigerian education sector; recruitment of unqualified incompetent TVET teachers; difficulties identifying real-life problems among others. Participants offered benchmarks, and actions and standards for improving the identified challenges, which formed a framework for coping with issues, challenges, and barriers to effective implementation of PBL in the TVET system of Nigerian HE (Table 1). Originality/Value - The results of this study are original and serve as an advocacy for Nigerian HE authorities to explore how PBL can be implemented in the TVET system to improve graduate outcomes. The study serves as a starting point for more research in the domain of improving the quality of TVET programmes in Nigerian HE. Industry leaders and policymakers in Nigeria and other developing countries could use the findings from this study to increase HE and industry participation and partnership for quality of TVET programme

Assessing democratic classroom practices among secondary school civic education teachers in the global south: case study of South East Nigeria

Democratic classroom practices are all strategies adopted by classroom teachers to actively engage students in the learning processes. Considerable literature assessing influence of Civic Education on youths’ active participation in a democratic society exists. Not much have reported an empirically conducted study on classroom best practices adopted by Civic Education teachers in the Global South. This paper examines classroom democratization by Civic Education teachersin South East Nigeria, students’ and teachers’ perceptions of democratic classroom,and challenges confronting classroom democratization. Focus Group Discussion  and Democratic classroom questionnaire were used to elicit information from 151 civic education teachers and 1400 senior secondary school one (SS1) students. Findings revealed that Civic Education teachers in South East Nigeria adopted democratic classroom practices marginally. Recommendation includes more adoption of democratic classroom best practices for development of students’ critical thinking abilities, preparing them to become participatory in their civic duties and reducing crimes among today’s youths

Does the End Use of Remittance Matter? - A Macro Simulation of the Nigerian Economy

International remittance has changed the landscape of international migration from brain drain to brain circulation; and provided the developing countries the opportunity to raise alternative sources of consumption and investment financing. However, the tendency that remittances will be poverty-reducing as well as growth-financing depends on its end use, particularly in import-dependent economies. The importance of focusing attention on the use of remittances is to checkmate early signs of another round of potential Dutch Diseases Syndrome which bedeviled the Nigeria’s oil sector from occurring in remittance. Macro-econometric model with six behavioral equations and six identities where used to estimate and simulate the effects of remittances inflow on aggregate demand in Nigeria. The simulation result shows that the much touted poverty-reducing effect of remittances is non-growth-financing for import-dependent country like Nigeria because of its negative impact on current account balance; despite its positive effects on private consumption and investment. Keywords: Nigeria, remittance, consumption, investment, import demand, macroeconometric mode