Professional Skills Acquisition and Human Capital Development: Implications for Higher Education Institutions

This study delved into University of Port Harcourt (UPH) and Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) lecturers’ approaches to professional development. Lecturers in the faculties of education in the universities constituted the target population from which a random sample of 120 respondents was selected. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using percentages, means and standard deviations. The findings were that new entrants into the teaching profession were not exposed to comprehensive induction programmes; the strategies used for professional development were limited; and new entrants into teaching were disposed towards mentoring. It was also found that new entrants into the teaching profession would prefer to be mentored in all the domains of knowledge management. Grounded on these findings, the study suggests ways of improving the acquisition of professional skills among lecturers in the universities.Keywords: Career mentoring; Induction; Professional developmen

Educational Ergonomics in Higher Education Institutions in Nigeria

This study focused on investigating the ergonomics and ergonomic considerations of learning environments of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Nigeria. It adopted a descriptive survey design. Population of study comprised all the three universities in Rivers State and a total of 136 lecturers, 230 students and 6 staff of works departments constituted the sample. Four research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. Data was collected using a researcher-constructed questionnaire entitled Educational Ergonomics in Higher Institutions questionnaire (EEIHIQ). An observation checklist and interview schedules were also used. The instrument was validated by experts and its reliability index was established at .75 index using Pearson Moment correlation coefficient. Mean scores were used to answer the research questions while the z–test was used to test the hypotheses at the .05 level of significance. The findings were that school buildings and other teaching and learning facilities in the universities are ergonomically below standard and unsafe. Recommendations towards improvement are made.Keywords: Physical facilities planning; Ergonomics; Quality assuranc

An Action Five Strategy For Bridging The Gender Gap In Academic Research Activities In African Universities. The Case of Nigeria

Academic research and productivity remain major criteria for determining productivity among university academics. Faculty progress and success are measured by their research productions. In the search for gender equality in higher education, the gender gaps in academic research productions raise concerns. Not only are the gaps limiting the rise on the academic ladder, they also reflect negatively on efforts to promote gender equity. This paper reports on a study that offers a strategy for bridging gender gaps in research in African Universities. The Action Five Strategy seeks to bridge research gaps between male and female academics. Two separate studies were carried out in 1988 using a sample of 297 lecturers with a minimum of five (5) years lectureship experience from ten (10) Nigerian Universities, in one case and, five hundred and sixty three (563) lecturers from thirteen (13) Nigerian Universities, in the other. Evidences from these studies in addition to some other works reviewed show that female academics are grossly disadvantaged in terms of awareness and involvement in research and publications. This may be one of the explanations for the under representation of women in higher ranks in the academic ladder. Other studies reviewed investigated reasons for this significant disparity in research activities between male and female academics. Against this backdrop, this paper proposes a five-action strategy for bridging the gap between male and female academics in research productivity. This strategy, which hinges on information and research network for female academics, recognizes five levels for building capacities for productive research activities among female academics. These are the individual, professional, institutional, societal/national and continental levels. Keywords: Academic Research, Action Five Strategy, Academic Productivity, Gender Gaps, Capacity Building Levels Studies in Gender and Development in Africa Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 105-11