Enhancing Academic Practice Nigeria Role of Newcastle University

Newcastle University: Civic, Regional and Global Newcastle University is a civic university in the North East of England. We are regionally rooted and globally relevant. We pursue annual themes on challenges to human society, currently Sustainability. Newcastle University has been awarded two Leadership Foundation Fellowships and recently the Gold award of Investors in People UK for its Staff Development Unit. We seek to build a partnership approach to enhancing academic practice, based on a successful model piloted in Nigeria

Newcastle University: Civic, Regional and Global To all our work we bring a values-based approach that seeks to promote the success of the individuals and organisations with whom we collaborate.

Certificate in Advanced Skills in Academic Practice (Intensive) programme - CASAP A cohort of Nigerian academics from universities across Nigeria and Newcastle University staff course participants studied together to enhance their academic practice and skills

CASAP (Intensive) programme objectives “The course modelled good practice in interactive sessions to provide an immersive experience that engaged participants and developed over the course. Specifically, it models how teachers can foster learning communities among their students.”

CASAP (Intensive) – how does it work? Module 1 (Core ideas, skills and attitudes): M 2 Induction and forming a cohort group Shadowing of lecturers “Power distance” and student learning Core skills of reception of students and interaction Information for learning Assessment for learning Practical quality assurance and enhancement

CASAP (Intensive) – total 10 weeks, followed by guided practice in Nigeria with video evidence Module 2 (Academic practice, choice, discipline- related work) M1 Related to business needs of sponsoring institution Flexible project Industrial contacts; networking skills, thinking entrepreneurially Research skills development Writing development Leadership interviews

What did participants say worked well? “I liked seeing how an interactive seminar worked Techniques on giving and getting feedback strategy, and the use of instructional materials Every bit of it. Excellent handling of all features Sharing knowledge and learning from one another Exciting ! Watching yourself teach and using various communication languages: a yardstick to be applied to our own case”

“Please comment on feedback you received from the Newcastle University teaching team:” It has been an eye-opener; a means to reflect upon and learn from I was negative about myself on the group teaching, but the tutor still saw positive things about my teaching They have been helpful and are lead ways to personal academic development Very very useful. Allows room for further improvement

Comments concerning the programme or your experience of Newcastle University as a programme participant: “Have learn tremendously. CASAP has certainly produced a new teacher in me.”

Comments concerning the programme or your experience of Newcastle University as a programme participant: “My experience of Newcastle University is wonderful and shall remain with me till I breathe my last. CASAP(Intensive) should be given a little more time so that we acquire the attitude of an effective teacher to enable us practice very well.”

Developing Nigerian academic practice to create: Enhanced institutions and skilled graduates

Developing academic practice is a three-legged process: Resources Individual staff skills Leadership of departments and institutions Enhanced institutions and skilled graduates

Developing academic practice is a three-legged process 1.Upgrade resources – infrastructure, labs, etc. 2.Upgrade individuals in terms of their teaching and entrepreneurial capacity (also Post Graduate scholarships and awards) 3.Upgrading of leadership approaches, including governance, management, administration and processes in order to secure gains from 1 and 2. Mentor programme graduates. Each leg is required to support the other two

Mentoring by programme graduates and supportive leaders is crucial to securing outcomes Resources Individual staff skills Leadership Enhanced institutions and skilled graduates Mentoring

Individual Development Benefits of the 10-week immersive and flexible CASAP (Intensive) programme, namely skills in: Teaching and student engagement Curriculum development Quality assurance Research and collaboration development Entrepreneurial attitudes, and Interviewing and giving/receiving feedback The skills and motivation to develop an academic practice network for disseminating their learning

Leadership Development: Once a cohort has successfully graduated from the CASAP (I) we invite leaders of their institutions to a leadership development programme 1.Leaders have the opportunity to experience the individual transformation their people have achieved 2.Debating and planning how to sustain institutional change is encouraged

Leadership Development: Once a cohort has successfully graduated from the CASAP (I) we invite leaders of their institutions to a leadership development programme 1.Leaders have the opportunity to experience the individual transformation their people have achieved 2.Debating and planning how to sustain institutional change is encouraged 3.Academic leadership development methods and models are used and leaders reflect on their own areas of strength 4.Mentoring skills development completes the leadership programme suite Leadership skills are developed and a motivation to develop an academic leadership network for embedding change encouraged

Newcastle University offers an integrated development approach to academic leadership and governance Based on a triangular relationship including trusted partner(s) in the country, rather than on a bilateral relationship It adds value at all stages, leveraging the involvement of the UK partner and leading directly to a Nigeria-based community of practice that has the skills and resources to bring more institutions ‘on board’ Such an integrated approach is cost-effective and high quality, delivering practical outcomes for partner institutions and their students

Benefits of the Newcastle University integrated approach Graduates of the CASAP programme lead further development in their own and other institutions Practical leadership approaches are developed in participants’ own situations Those on the leadership programme mentor and enable the CASAP graduates to share their new approaches through an academic practice network Research skills and entrepreneurial approaches are an integral outcome of the way we work, rather than simply an “added on” feature