As part of efforts to boost productivity and enhance academic performance and in consonance with the directive of the university management, the School of Environmental Technology SET organized the first management retreat for Heads of Department on Friday 20th September 2024.
The Vice Chancellor Professor Adenike Oladiji who declared the retreat opened, said the idea behind the decentralization “is to ensure that all heads of departments participate fully in the programme. The aim is to aid management in directing the affairs in the schools.”
She said “Heads of Departments hold the key to organizing staff and students in the departments effectively and should work in tandem with the goals of the school and cooperate with the Dean at all times. HODS must walk within the confines of the law but with a human face. Without law and order, civility will break down. The university is a community of elites and we must show example by being orderly in our dealings with both staff and students. Students are the key stakeholders in the university and should be treated accordingly. Our interactions with students will determine whether they will give back to the institution after graduation.”
The Vice Chancellor advised academics to be knowledgeable and contribute meaningfully in the community. “We must be familiar with the happenings of our nation. We must also know government policies and stance on educational issues. That way we can engage without putting the university community at risk. At all times we must be acquainted with the laws of the university in order to avoid embarrassing situations.”
In his remarks the Dean, SET, Professor Isaac Aje said “the fact keeps evolving that 21st century academic leadership transcends main academic services of teaching and research to the multi-tasking services of staff appraisal, budgeting, discipline of staff and students to mention a few. The need to be versatile as a wholesome Head of Department therefore calls for a consistent review of the performance of the highly demanding intellectual and administrative tasks and roles embedded therein.”
He said “the aim of the university management to have the program stems from the following facts, the quest for a liberal and relaxed atmosphere to unlearn conservative ideas in handling men and resources; the need to learn the fast evolving and more pragmatic styles of harnessing human and material resources; and the importance of re-learning the fast-disappearing academic culture that fosters the existence of tertiary institutions such as ours”
Seasoned keynote speakers such as Mr. Ayorinde Ogunruku, a seasoned administrator per excellence and former Registrar of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Professor Boniface Alese, Dean School of Computing, and Professor Rufus Ogunsemi, Former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic took turns to speak on University Administration issues, ( Basic Administrative Functions of HODS , handling of Non-Academic staff, initiating and attending to mails, Students and staff relations ( Staff roles and limits, staff and student relationships, handling student matters), and Faculty and School Administration respectively.
The resource persons enjoined Heads of Department to provide academic leadership and direction, and to treat non-teaching staff as integral parts of the system. They were also told that positive interactions between students and faculty could significantly enhance students’ academic journey; in addition to developing a healthy department, the Head must be an agent of change, people manager, advocate, and a resourceful person.
