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The Teaching Effectiveness Committee (TEC) of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) has organised an internal development workshop to empower the Faculty of the University on effective teaching pedagogies. The session was conducted to enable the faculty to share their academic strategies and implementation challenges for the 2023/2024 academic year and learn from the successes of their peers. The presentations revolved around the theme “Empowering Educators: Transforming Learning through Sharing the Knowledge of Effective Academic Strategies – Prospects and Challenges”. In his opening address, the Vice-Chancellor of SUN Prof. Ajith Kumar V. V. expressed his delight that the workshop is capable of giving attendees valuable insights on how to implement successful academic strategies, especially through peer learning and knowledge sharing. He said the event exhibited the right energy for the qualitative education provided by the institution. At the core of their activities, the Vice-Chancellor reminded the faculty to groom students by shaping their future eloquently.  He then acknowledged the fact that teaching is a noble profession and charged the faculty to be role models and sources of inspiration as they prepare the future generation. He also tasked them with the responsibility of instilling basic etiquette in their students such as time management, emotional intelligence and self-discipline among others. Delivering his presentation Dr. Isah Usman, the Dean School of Basic Medical Sciences (SMBS) who is also a member of the TEC committee, highlighted the necessity of segmenting the students’ level of understanding when delivering lectures. He explained that the quality of any effective teaching has a strong connection with motivating and inspiring students to learn.   In their various presentations, the faculty of the School of Arts Social and Management Sciences (SAMMS), the School of Basic Medical Sciences (SMBS) and the School of Science and Information Technology (SSIT), explained the various teaching pedagogies they have experimented and underlined their successes and challenges. Project-based learning and flip-teaching were among the methodologies that dominated the discussions. A total of 22 faculty members presented during the workshop.   In her closing remarks, the Dean School of Arts Social and Management Sciences (SAMMS) and the chairperson of TEC Dr. Sudha Mavuri, conveyed her satisfaction with the presentations delivered by the Faculty concerning student engagement, assessment methods, technology integration, and differentiated instruction. Dr. Mavuri added that knowledge sharing by the faculty is essential to advancing the transfer of knowledge. She said it is crucial for the faculty to experiment with at least one teaching pedagogy in an academic session.  One of the participants of the session Mr. Trimisiyu Lawal, a lecturer from the Department of Economics said he was successful in applying the flip-teaching method. He said he was inspired to do so after attending the TEC session that happened during the last academic year 2022/2023, where one of the faculty explained its significance in teaching. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has conducted a premobilization orientation for the Prospective Corps Members (PCMs)/Final year students at Skyline University Nigeria (SUN). The orientation session was held at the campus of SUN. The session was delivered by Mr. Musa T. Kafarda, the Assistant Director of Mobilization at NYSC headquarters FCT Abuja. He said some of the staff of NYSC have been tasked with the duty of delivering the pre-mobilization training for prospective corps members in selected Public and Private Universities across Nigeria including SUN. In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University appreciated NYSC for supporting the students. He said the information delivered will be resourceful and effectively utilized by the students to have an easy service year. Mr. Kafarda said “The briefing is to prepare the PCMs for a hitch-free service year and give them first-hand information on the activities of the NYSC. It also enables Corps Producing Institutions and their students to get clarification on issues of importance”. He explained that NYSC began in 1973 after the Nigerian Civil War which is about 54 years to date. He said the administration of former President Yakubu Gowon established it in order to inculcate discipline so as to rehabilitate and construct a unified country. He added that the pre-mobilization training sessions are important for PCMs so as to experience a hitch-free before, during and after service year. He highlighted that the NYSC experience involves physical and rigorous activities that are not applicable for some sets of candidates including pregnant mothers, people with special needs, sickness, etc. There are also criteria for exemption applied by NYSC when necessary. Mr. Kafarda then advised the PCMs/Final year students at SUN to abide by all rules set down by the NYSC so as to benefit immensely from the life-changing experience. He said the NYSC experience will acquaint corps members with opportunities for skills acquisition, self-meditation, networking, and language studies among other valuable benefits. One of the final year students of Computer Science at SUN Ms. Anisa Sagir who attended the session said, the session was really satisfying and she learnt a lot. She says now knows the requirements need and hopes to have a fruitful service year. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) has concluded the Train the Trainer executive seminar for Directors, Deputy Directors and Senior Administrators from the Ministry of Education in Kano State. The two-day session which ran from runs from the 26th to the 27th of July 2023 is part of the numerous Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities done by the institution. In his remarks, the Vice–Chancellor of the university Prof. Ajith Kumar V. V. said the topics selected were deliberately curated to support the work of the administrators in discharging their duties. He expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the participants through interactive engagements and careful reviews. He assured them of the university’s unwavering support and readiness to help them enhance their productivity. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Kano State, Hajia Kubra Imam who attended the event appreciated the Directors, Deputy Directors and Senior Administrators for attending the life-long impactful workshop. She said the training will help the executives in giving education a new dimension in the state. The second day of the seminar uncovered the essentials of stress management and transformational leadership. The Dean School of Basic Medical Sciences (SBMS) Dr. Isa Usman engaged the participants on an exciting journey of Stress, its causes and coping mechanisms. He said stress is inevitable but manageable. He highlighted several stressors from personal experiences while interacting with the attendees. He then urged the participants to prioritize their mental health. Dr. Sudha Mavuri, the Dean of the School of Arts, Management and Social Sciences (SAMSS) disclosed the need for a transformational leadership style for the participants. She said leaders and followers are bound together in a transformation process. She added that transformational leaders enable leaders to model the ways, challenge processes and inspire a shared vision. The first day of the workshop exposed the participants to the relevance of learning and applying Digital Skills in their everyday executive activities. The tutors from the School of Sciences and Information Technology (SSIT) informed the attendees about the significance of acquiring IT skills which are necessary to support and improve the efficiency of their work. They added that the skills will also reduce the stress they experience while delivering their tasks. In her closing remarks, the Director of Academic Support Services (DASS) Ms. Sarada Maganti conveyed her joy over the successful completion of the session. She said the university will continue to contribute to the betterment of education in Kano. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria  

Skyline University Nigeria has conducted the first day of executive empowerment seminar for Directors, Deputy Directors and Senior Administrators from Ministry of Education, Kano State on Digital Skills. The workshop which runs from the 26th to the 27th of July 2023, is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the university. In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of SUN Prof. Ajith Kumar V. V. said that it was a pleasure having the executive participants on the campus as he welcomed them. He encouraged them about the necessity of learning digital skills due to their strategic positions in the Ministry. He acknowledged that the executives have a huge role to play in educating their peers and co-workers. The Vice-Chancellor admitted that educating them will help the various educational sectors in Nigeria to catch up with global technology and innovation trends. He then thanked the participants for all the support they have extended and informed them about the Skyline University School of Post-Graduate Studies. Ms. Sarada Maganti, the Director of Academic Support Services (DASS) in her speech thanked the executive participants for sparing time to attend this important workshop. She said the event was crucial as the world is developing rapidly in digital skills. The SUN management and Ministry participants were overwhelmed with the surprise visit of the Honorable Commissioner – Ministry of Education Comrade Umar Haruna Doguwa. Giving an impromptu speech  during the workshop, the honorable Commissioner said that he is very delighted to witness the interactive session for the Directors, Deputy Directors and Senior Administrators. He believes that the training would enhance the performance of the participants at work and in their various communities. In the first part of the presentation, the Dean of the School of Sciences and Information Technology (SSIT), Dr. A. Senthil Kumar explained that societies have to understand the relevance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning and Robotics. He gave instances of how AI has simplified the work in industries and executive workplaces – Chatbots, Quillbot, and ChatGPT. And, he emphasized the incorporation of modern technology into office activities. Dr. Ashok Kumar, a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science here  at Skyline University Nigeria while leading the second part of the workshop highlighted the significance of virtual conference tools such as Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. He said the executives can succeed massively with the use of virtual meeting applications. Representing the participants Hajiya Suwaiba Sadeh, the Director of Quality Assurance at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) said she learnt a lot from the session and is eagerly looking forward to the second day of the event. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

The Head of the Department of Political Science at Skyline University Nigeria has conducted a Staff Development Programme (SDP) training session for the operational staff of the university. The training is part of the university’s goal-setting initiative for academic staff. Mr. Farid Illo, the HOD of Political Science Department and the facilitator said the session was to unveil the importance of followership in building effective leadership within an institution. He said oftentimes, “Employees focus on understanding the leadership structure obtainable in an organization without assessing their followership roles as key elements in the overall leadership”. Presenting his paper titled ‘“Followership; The Other Side of Leadership in 21st Century”, Mr. Illo stated that it is impossible to lead without followers. He acknowledged that there is indeed a paucity of literature and a lack of interest in studying followership when compared to leadership which has enormous resources according to research. This is particularly because of the quest for leadership. Mr. Illo highlighted that 5 categories of followers are found within an institution or organization. Every employee could fall under a single category. The categories which he culled from the work of Barbara Kellerman are Isolates, Bystanders, Participants, Activists and Diehards. He said the level of participation within an organization is the major determinant that defines the category of an individual. From the Isolates to the Diehards the level of participation increases. All other categories within the two major ones determine the level of an employee’s involvement or detachment from institutional leadership activities. He said one has to find a middle ground between the two extremes in order to support organizational goals and objectives. According to one of the participants. Ms. Hafsat Usman, the events coordinator at SUN, the session was practical and impactful. She said the facilitator has addressed a crucial issue that is quite neglected in building successful leadership structures within institutions. In closing, the facilitator said he is absolutely impressed with the participation of the staff and is hopeful they would put to effective use what they have learnt.   You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

The Vice-Chancellor and management of Skyline Univerisity Nigeria (SUN) have received a Media Trust Group delegation on a courtesy visit. The team visited the university to see areas of collaboration and commend the management of its continuous patronage. In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of SUN Prof. Ajith Kumar V. V. appreciated the delegation for their continuous support towards the institution. He said Daily Trust Newspaper was among the national dailies that he preferred since he came to Kano 3 years ago. The Vice-Chancellor also applauded the Media Trust Group – Daily Trust, Aminiya, Trust TV, Trust Radio and Trust Digital for supporting the Mass Communication Department at SUN with highly resourceful industry professionals. He said the professionals have been instrumental in providing students with first-hand experiences during the Guest Lecture Series that the university organizes for them. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, the Group CEO of Media Trust Group said the purpose of their visit was to strengthen the company’s ties with SUN and explore more areas of collaboration. He added that the company has so many initiatives that can support SUN to achieve its desired objectives. He highlighted that Media Group can ably unveil creative students on their Teen Trust and Daily Trust. He lauded the institution’s efforts in supporting students with activities on financial inclusion which will enable youths to be familiar with business opportunities before graduation. Mr. Gwarzo expressed his satisfaction with the academic environment at SUN which he said was comfortable for learning and distinguishing academic journey. He said the Media Trust Group is willing to support students with industry experience to motivate them whenever they are needed. The Vice-Chancellor thanked the team for the visit and promised to efficiently utilize the opportunities suggested by the team. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria  

The faculty staff of Skyline University Nigeria have visited Kurmawa Correctional Centre Kano Command as part of their community service Programme. Their visit was to conduct training for inmates on Stress Management and to provide support and valuable knowledge to help the inmates cope with the challenges of stress. The training was curated and delivered by Mr. Trimisiyu Lawal from the Department of Economics, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim from the Department of Physiotherapy, and Dr. Nasir Abdullahi  Department of Nursing to over 200 inmates. The SUN team was warmly welcomed by the Deputy Controller of Correctional, DCC Muazu Tukur. He gave an introductory briefing and lauded the management of SUN for supporting the Kurmawa Correctional Centre Kano Command through the wonderful initiative. Mr. Lawal commenced the session with a careful introduction to stress, its causes and possible ways to tackle it in English Language. He said managing stress is extremely important for the inmates especially due to their past realities. He also enumerated the necessity of equipping the inmates with practical techniques of stress management which they can implement, to cope with the challenges they face within the correctional facility. In his part, Dr. Abdullahi applauded the management of Kurmawa Correctional Centre Kano Command, for their keen anticipation and warm reception. As a professional psychiatric nurse, he said stress is associated with life-threatening ailments such as insomnia, depression and hypertension among others. He advised the inmates to be in total control of their emotions and take necessary steps such as simple exercises and interpersonal communication with fellows during his presentation in English Language. While presenting his part in Hausa Language, Dr. Ibrahim highlighted the importance of understanding the causes, symptoms, solutions and impact of stress particularly on the inmates. He stated that extreme cases of stress could lead to suicide if not managed effectively. He said he was absolutely fascinated by the level of understanding they expressed when he chose the Hausa Language to explain the concepts vividly. Dr. Ibrahim then thanked the management of the centre and DCC Tukur for easing the process of the training session. He said the team would convey the areas of collaboration highlighted by the management, particularly in ICT, Education and soft skills training. DCC Tukur sincerely appreciated the management of SUN for organizing the session for the inmates and is looking forward to future engagements.   You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

The management of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) has recently conducted a Strategy Summit to enable staff to engage with one another and unveil areas of more collaboration, effective communication and team. The Summit, which was held at Bristol Palace Hotel in Kano State, was also organized to present activities that have happened during the last academic year by each department at the university. The Pro. Chancellor of SUN Mr. Nitin Anand who chaired the event, stated the importance of such gatherings as an avenue for the identification of a common goal, understanding and bonding for the institution’s staff. He highlighted that the congregation would definitely allow for the realization of the institution’s goals and objectives while charging the staff to be highly dedicated. In his presentation, the Vice-Chancellor of SUN Prof. Ajith Kumar V.V. said the university has achieved a great milestone during the academic year 2022/2023. Some of the notable milestones he highlighted included The NUC accreditation for additional courses, the marticulation ceremony, over 22 guest lecture series held for students, and some students of SUN emerging first and second runner-ups in the Tie MENA competition, among others. The Vice-Chancellor charged the staff to take responsibility and ownership of delivering tasks efficiently as well as be supportive of each other. He also charged the faculty to apply new methods of teaching so as to expose students to global standards of learning. The Director of Marketing (DOMC), Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Ismail who also presented during the strategy summit, said the past academic year has been quite eventful for the marketing department at SUN. He said the department anticipates more prosperous years ahead. The Director of Academic Support Services (DASS), Ms. Sarada Maganti while presenting her paper stated that loyalty and trust are two important elements that can strengthen collaboration in task delivery in the institution. She advised the staff to communicate effectively to ensure that services are rightly delivered to the students and stakeholders. Other key personalities that spoke during the event include the Dean of the School of Science and Information Technology (SSIT) Dr. A. Senthil Kumar, the Dean of the School of Social and Management Sciences (SAMSS) Dr. Sudha Mavuri, the Dean of the School of Basic Medical Sciences (SBMS) Dr. Isa Lawal, as well as representatives from Corporate Affairs and Centre for Continuing Learning (CCL). You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

The Students Service Department of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) has organized a Professional Skill Development Programme (PSDP) for the level 100 students currently taking their second semester at the campus. The session was organized to inculcate useful values in students that will help them have a fruitful stay at the university. Mr. Trimisiyu Lawal from the Department of Economics and Dr. Nasiru Abdullahi from the Department of Nursing at SUN lectured the students on the essential skills that would support their careers at the institution. While delivering his lecture titled ‘General Etiquettes and Team Work’, Mr. Lawal emphasized the importance of etiquettes as effective for achieving goals, maintaining relationships and building networks throughout tertiary education. He states, “Politeness will enable your success as students. Attitude plays a critical role in learning and that is transferable to what you are likely going to do after school”. He explained that these basic attitudes are critical for a successful higher education career. He adds that social norms guide our behaviors in certain ways and etiquette promotes teamwork. And, students have to restrict themselves from using derogatory or unbefitting words. With derogatory statements, no fruitful exercise will hold. The knowledge of these etiquettes applies to all kinds of engagements including classroom relationships. Mr. Lawal highlighted some useful etiquette for the students such as clear and concise communication, mutual respect, resolving conflicts promptly and recognizing achievements among others. In his lecture, ‘Survival Skills in a Tertiary Institution’, Dr. Abdullahi explained that higher education has numerous challenges. There are a range of skills and activities that will help students overcome what they will face. Some of the basic skills that are vital for students to succeed in their learning at the tertiary institution include class attendance, taking notes, the two-hour study rule, and keeping track of your progress, among others. Some students who attended the session expressed their satisfaction with the overall Programme and hope to apply all they have learnt.  You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria