The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, has said it would soon begin a one-year compulsory residency programme and oath-taking ceremony for engineering graduates across the country.
The Registrar of COREN, Prof. Ademola Adisa, disclosed this on Tuesday, during a three-day regional train-the-trainer workshop held at the University of Uyo main campus, Nwanniba Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The workshop was on the implementation of outcome-based education in engineering programmes in Nigerian universities.
He said the new practice was due to globalisation and emerging technologies in engineering.
Adisa said after 52 years of its existence, COREN was faced with realities that necessitated a change in the paradigm of the Nigerian engineering education system,
He said henceforth, the annual practising licence would be earned through different training and certification areas deployed by COREN.
“With the current restructuring of COREN and expanding of activities covered in its mandates, we are bringing back SITSIE by institutionalising a one-year mandatory engineering residency, which all engineering graduates must embark on for more practical and industry exposure, upon graduation.
“It is, therefore, very important and mandatory that your Faculty of Engineering submits to COREN its yearly list/database of engineering students across all levels for indexing.
“Oath-taking of engineering graduates by COREN will commence shortly as well. Engineering Practitioners are expected to earn mandatory CPD points/units as a pre-requisite for the renewal of their COREN annual practising licence.
“I would also want to use this medium to bring to your notice that COREN is presently working out modalities for the implementation of NUC-COREN joint accreditation of engineering programmes going forward,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, while declaring the workshop open, described it as “a significant milestone in the ongoing commitment to excellence in engineering education and practice.”
The vice chancellor, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof Anthonia Essien, stated that the workshop would help enhance the quality of engineering education and produce graduates prepared to tackle the challenges of the 21st Century.