The Vice-Chancellor/Chief Executive and Academic Officer, Summit University, Offa (SUN, Offa) Prof. Abiodun Musa Aibinu, highlighted the need to adopt a different approach in the implementation of final year project across the country. He noted that Final Year Project (FYP) as a research work related to a student’s field of study, must be carried out in partial fulfilment for the award of a bachelor’s degree at SUN Offa as stipulated in curriculum.
In his opening remark during the maiden online interaction with final year students, the don highlighted the tripod responsibilities of university to include knowledge generation, knowledge dissemination and knowledge application before dwelling on the need to turn final year project into start-ups and business ventures through AcadoPreneurship mantra instead of allowing to rot away on the shelf.
The new approach to the conduct of FYP shows the unveiling of outline of learning and research activities from Wednesday, November 1st 2022 to Monday, February 27th, 2023.
Starting with the release of approved project topics and supervisors on November 2nd 2022, the students would be taken through weekly supervision, mentoring and learning activities on grantsmanship, research proposal writing, extensive literature review, publishable paper development and AcadoPreneuership among other activities aimed at equipping the students with the necessary skills for successful completion of the project.
He also stated that the final year project is expected to be an individual work but can be done in a group where each student will have a different report and the report must consist of 40% difference in content. He highlighted the need to use the FYP for the development of innovations and inventions that would be changing the way we live in our community, defend our nations and work in Africa.
The Chief Executive and Academic Officer also mentioned that special recognition will be given to student(s) with an A grade in project(s) and such candidate(s) would be nominated for Best Final Year Project Award at the departmental level. In addition, the Don also shared information about effort that has been put in place regarding commercialisation and generation of intellectual property from FYP.
Mrs. Mutiat Mohammed, the acting coordinator, Research and Innovation Unit (RIU), SUN Offa, gave tips on approaches that could assist students in completing their FYP. Among the suggestions mentioned by the erudite researcher include planning ahead, starting early, meeting your supervisor to update your project progress, listening to feedback, and cooperating with supervisor and other group members.