The Enugu State Government, says it will partner with the Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI), Enugu, to engage students on early research that would enhance teaching and learning.
Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the State Government said this during the 1st Annual International Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) held at GOUNI Enugu.
The CURE project which offers undergraduates early and extensive opportunities to engage in research beyond the traditional classroom setting is convened by the Chair, Natural Science Department, Bowie State University, Maryland, Prof. George Udeh.
The conference attracted students of different universities across Nigeria.
Onyia said the state government was planning to integrate experiential learning into the state’s curriculum, adding that Gov. Peter Mbah had engaged on a very aggressive education transformation agenda.
He said the state had spelt out reforms from pre- care to secondary, to learn how to carry out research work as the state is poised to provide them with different learning environment and approaches.
“This is why we are pushing for 260 model schools across all the wards in the state and the whole idea is prefix on the model Udeh is pushing here.
“We will design our curriculum so that kids from pre- care stage will begin to experience learning not from another point of view but the one that will allow them to be able to experience through the point of mastery.
“Enugu State is completely aligning with this programme. The state is partnering GOUNI in committing our designing processes especially on our STEM courses in our model school by using some of your scholars here.
“I am really encouraged by what GOUNI can do for the region and the country and on the government side, we are hopeful that what happened here today forms partnership for all of us, Coal City University to be able to expand our special learning,” Onyia said.
In a welcome address, Pro Chancellor, GOUNI, Prof. Christian Okeke, said the integration of CURE programme into GOUNI was a pacesetter in the introduction of new discipline and curriculum into the university.
Okeke, who commended the convener, said the theme of the conference was course-based undergraduates’ research experience for all the students through laboratory experiences.
According to him, it is model for all undergraduate students requiring this project to contribute to the discipline that is integral part of the course in the regular curriculum which led to a derivable answer to the existing problem.
“CURE exemplifies research among the ongoing and collaborative process on the bases of resolving problems.
“I am happy to reiterate that focus of serious research by this university has made the goals of all the authorities of this university the fastest young growing university from inception in 2009.
“The university is an institution characterized by the ideals of loyalty, truth and excellence through sustained research and publication and it is poised to integrate CURE curriculum into our own curriculum making it the best in accordance with its effort to pioneer innovation,” Okeke said.
He added that CURE international conference would not only benefit the whole institution but other institutions in several ways by enhancing research validity of the participating institutions.
“By enriching the reputation of these institutions and open avenues for external collaboration and by creating possibilities for knowledge exchange and transfer by fostering the culture of cross disciplinary cooperation.
“Once more, on behalf of the board of trustees, I congratulate Prof. George Udeh and his team for boosting such important international conference”, he said.
Udeh in an opening lecture, said CURE engaged whole classes of students in a research question or unique problem that was of interest to the scientific community.
He said the CURE project at GOUNI aimed to create a knowledge transfer system by offering hands-on training and learning experiences for teachers and students alike through several STEM Courses, starting with a focus on the Biological Sciences.
According to him, CURE is a model of undergraduate research experiences that actively engage students in an original research, Inquiry-based project, signifying a creative contribution to the discipline.
“An Integral component of a course that leads to the learning objective or outcome of responding to an existing societal problem, exemplifying research as an iterative, ongoing, and collaborative process addressing unresolved problems or unanswered questions.
“The overall goals of the 2023 International CURE Conference are to highlight the value of course-based undergraduate research projects for two- and four-year colleges, universities, and communities, around the world and to broaden the opportunities for undergraduates to participate in these projects.
“Faculty, administrators, and professional staff can collaborate on developing capacity for course-based undergraduate research activities at all types of higher education Institutions”, he added.
He said he decided to embark on sharing the framework with renowned institutions worldwide starting with GOUNI as part of his sabbatical, funded by the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program.
“Engaging the whole class in a research project is a way to introduce all of them to scientific research methods without discrimination based on academic performance or GPA.
“All students, therefore, are given equal opportunities.
“With the local teams here, we have been consumed with the discovery, cataloging, and analysis of local species through DNA barcoding.
“We are enhancing the advancement of STEM pedagogy in the curriculum for the students through hands-on laboratory experiences”, he said.
