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During the past few months, Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) has witnessed many new and inviting developments. One of these developments is the ongoing project that will initiate the hope of science students looking to gain admission in Nursing and Physiotherapy science at Skyline University Nigeria. This development as described by stakeholders of the university is “the next big thing for prospective students”. Skyline University Nigeria has come a long way since its inception in 2018. Of course, the management had a great vision for the university, which continues to remain a work in progress, following new and exciting opportunities for prospective students looking to acquire not only the required skills and knowledge needed in the workplace but also to be part of the contributors to National development. A view of the nearly completed state of the ongoing infrastructural development within the SUN campus for the Nursing and Physiotherapy department, one would observe that it’s uniquely different from the usual settings of other facilities in the university. It was designed to complement and support biomedical services as well as foster collaborations amongst researchers. The university has also ensured that all requirements and arrangements for accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) are thoroughly and carefully observed. Interestingly, all the Programmemes run by the institution are fully approved by the NUC, an indication that the plan meets national quality assurance requirements and established industry requirement which is key to building confidence. These courses are part of the university’s strategic plan and expectation to serve the health care needs of the communities across Nigeria, as well as the global world. SUN has the vision to aspire, to be an internationally recognized institution of excellence in higher education, by providing a technologically enabled platform for innovative research and education with a focus on creativity and entrepreneurship. Part of aligning this vision is the university’s preparedness for Nursing Science, physiotherapy as well as Tourism management.

Skyline University Nigeria, on Saturday, 30th January 2020 held “Changing Gear Seminar” tagged; “Conflict Management in the Workplace” for Officials from Ministry of Education and Members from Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON ). An International Relations Expert and a Lecturer in Skyline University Nigeria Mr. Farid Illo, as Facilitator of this seminar, posited that workplace conflict management should be taken seriously so that team members can make progress towards accomplishing goals that need to be reached. The workshop was organized by the Marketing & Student Service Department of Skyline University Nigeria. The Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University Nigeria, Dr. Ajith Kumar Vadakki Veetil, in his Welcome speech stated that success in life will require the knowledge and strategies of navigating through workplace conflict. He commended the guests on their enthusiasm and zeal for taking part in the auspicious platform and commended the Facilitaor and respective departments that helped to make the event a success. The seminar had in attendance, participants from Ministry of Education and  a pool of Proprietors of secondary schools in Kano Metropolis. The Programmeme ended with a closing remarks from the APSON Chairlady, Mrs. Abimbola Ayetunde, followed by a presentation of certificates of attendance to the participants.

Dr. Ajith Kumar Vadakki Veetil has joined Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) as the new Vice-Chancellor. Having served Skyline University College (SUC), Sharjah, as the Dean, School of Business, where he remarkably led the school to greater heights through his untainted leadership qualities, Dr. Ajith will provide stewardship towards achieving the SUN’s Mission, Vision and strategic goals for the benefit of stakeholders as well as set new standards that would continue to move the university forward. Further to his career progression in Skyline University College Sharjah, Dr. Ajith has served the educational industry for over 22 years in teaching and research. Under his leadership, the School of Business has grown considerably and has successfully achieved Ministry approvals and recognitions in Teaching, Research & Services. He has as well been a key driving force behind re-inventing the Center for Continuing Learning where he successfully managed relationships with various international organizations that offer professional certifications and added many new courses as well as successfully established running Executive Development Programmes for various sectors of the industry. Dr. Ajith has attained a wide spectrum of honours. He was honoured with the award for excellence in teaching in 2014-2015, Excellence in Academics in 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively, AAC member of the year award in 2018-19, etc. His most recent initiative was undertaking the process towards achieving the AACSB International Accreditation for School of Business where major work has been accomplished by him and his team.  He will work on the improvement of academic and social facilities of SUN students by paying close attention to students’ mentorship, orientation, beyond classroom extra-curricular activities and social life. Dr. Ajith who reports on Wednesday 27th January 2021 will replace the former Vice-Chancellor Professor Sudhakar Kota, who has diligently served the institution. We wish you all the best, support and encouragement to succeed in this new office. Welcome to the SUN family Mr. Vice-Chancellor!

One of the core priority amongst the educators in Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) is largely to support students’ academic and career success through strategic planning. Given that academic works are ever-increasing, undergraduates will need to set goals and decide what actions need to be taken to achieve those goals. They will need to put a system in place to determine their overall academic mission and to decide ahead of time, what they would like to accomplish throughout their study period and beyond. Imagine graduating from university and got a job in a creative firm. Your boss comes in and ask you to prepare a strategic plan and you have no idea on how to get started. No knowledge of how to create a strategic plan. You are likely to do a lousy job on the assignment. For an effective and efficient plan, you need a system in place to help you achieve the end result. This process is continuous and cyclical and can be achieved with discipline and focus to stay on track while enjoying the journey and learning from it.  Having a good strategy dictates how you travel the road you’ve selected along your chosen discipline, while effectively making sure that you’re checking in along the way as you execute them. Strategic planning takes a critical, unbiased look at what has worked before and what hasn’t. From daily routine to weekly, to monthly and then for the semester. Constant practice will teach you how you can develop your skills for a later time in your career and avoid pitfalls like neglecting specific needs. While the component of a business strategic plan may come in many sizes, they all contain a mission statement, vision statement, value statement or guiding principles, SWOT analysis, competitors’ analysis, strategies, action plans, etc. A students strategic plan should be simple and explicit showing how fully prepared you are for the task ahead. All it takes is making that solid schedule and having a full understanding of what’s expected of you. The basic components should comprise. Plan what you’re going to do for the entire semester and break it down in categories (if it isn’t already explicit). Estimate roughly how long it will take to complete (and leave room for extra time just in case). Schedule when you’re going to do it and engage with your learning. Set aside specific times to do homework and build a relationship with lecturers. Eliminate time-wasting activities and managing relationships with course mates.

If you fall amongst the category of university students looking only to gain just academic knowledge and haven’t been thinking about some other things that you can do to sharpen your skills to the fullest extent, then you could be missing out on activities that would improve your future career chances and set you apart from other students. In Skyline University Nigeria (SUN), we believe that every undergraduate should be able to go beyond the academics and developed skills that are essential for the survival of any work-life to work confidently in several careers. Because employers are employing graduates outside their specialization, for the skills they possessed, there, therefore, shouldn’t be anything alien in the idea of a Historian, a Political Scientist, or a Graduate of International Relations working as a Journalist, a graphics designer or a Content/Media Manager. Although there are career paths that demand certain qualifications, such careers like medicine, nursing, and its accompanied profession are likely to stay. So, whether you need to learn to develop diverse career competency or become business ready throughout your academic Programmeme, our on-campus career-building opportunities are the ideal choice. See some of the opportunities available for SUN students to participate and develop beyond academics, to thrive, belong, create, transform and succeed in several careers. Students Organization On-campus students organization is a great platform that allows students to take on responsibilities and solve challenges, to make a difference in the university community as well as provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be a good leader. You can join a campus club where you can have fun and develop leadership and teamwork experience along the way. Student organizations bring together students with a common interest in anything from sustainability to investment banking. Our Unique Facilities SUN has a wide array of centres, institutes and facilities, which contributes to the vitality and creativity of the university. You can use the entrepreneurship lab, newsroom, or creative zone on campus that lets you build skills while doing something you love. SUN is working to have a professional radio and HD TV stations on campus where students can produce their own content.  Internship Opportunities There are tons of internship activities that work with your students’ schedule to get some on the job training. Internships give you the opportunity to work within the university campus for a limited amount of time, from a week to a semester. These can be paid or unpaid and allow interns to learn more about a field of interest while completing tasks or projects alongside full-time employees.  Leadership training You can also take leadership training through leadership workshop occasionally held within the university and gain crucial skills like communication and teamwork. Leadership training can happen informally through your involvement with campus organizations, and many colleges have dedicated leadership centres to train and mentor students. Undergraduates at SUN can work with the Students Service or the Corporate Affairs Department to seek opportunities on campus and beyond.

University days can be the best and the worst of times for any undergraduate. Mostly, it is considered a privilege to have the next four to five years of ones’ life, simply attending lectures each day and exploring the literature of great thinkers. It is also a time that should be filled with laugher and enjoyment, as well as working towards ones’ future vocation. There aren’t many times in life when you have so much freedom and still, have time to forge lifelong friendships than the university days, which will make such a positive experience as well as become the basis for an incredible career in the future. As you return to school after the lockdown, well, the university won’t magically be your best year ever or the most memorable, unless you begin to learn much more than what is thought in the classroom, such as how to manage your own time, money, studies, and social life as well as how to get along with a variety of people from many different walks of life. It has to be more than the impression of prioritizing course work over the extracurricular opportunities available in the university. The university years isn’t complicated. It’s very simple if you understand the tricks involved. The trick is to be as disciplined in your approach to your studies as possible whilst devoting time to relaxing and enjoying yourself. With that being said a considerable amount of maturity is needed to make sure that you achieve the degree you will one day look back on with fond memories. Here are some of the tricks needed to make your university years memorable. Be in your best behaviour – For a student to get access to an excellent education, they are expected to comply with certain university expectations and display values of politeness, kindness, compassion and respectful behaviour. Understand that education serves to prepare you for the workplace and to mould you into a responsible and productive person. That Lecturers aren’t babysitters, nor is their role to hold your hand through a degree. You need to hone your goals, develop your personality so you can face the world with confidence. Meet academic expectations – Students are required to meet the academic expectations by creating a collaborative learning environment and displaying values of teamwork and unity. Be punctual. Being late for class creates a negative impact on students’ grades. Thus, students must maintain discipline in the classroom. Learn to take ownership of your actions and change your habits to support your growth. Make health and happiness a priority Learn to say no, develop boundaries and surround yourself with positive people. Finally, It’s important to make the most of your time at university. You won’t be able to get the time back, and when looking back in years to come, you’ll have fond memories to treasure – and a qualification that will set your career off in the right direction. We don’t expect everyone to respond in the same way, however, we encourage them to model behaviors and attitudes that promote learning through defined goal setting and self-evaluation.

The Covid-19 pandemic may have given room for laziness and unproductivity to thrive amongst the student’s community, given the extended closures of schools across the country in compliance with safety COVID-19 regulations. These extensions should be perceived as an opportunity to improve oneself and academic performance. That’s right – going out to the campus, participating in extracurricular activities and the likes may not be on the schedule yet, but here are some of the positive choices you can make while waiting for schools to reopen. Read a lot of books If you’ve got a lot of time due to the lockdown and don’t know what to do with it, one of the best ways to spend time being productive is to start reading books. Reading books will improve your verbal abilities, concentration and focus, improve your imaginations, make you smart, improve your memory and reduces stress. Reading is highly encouraged. You can make it a habit of spending at least 30 minutes or an hour to read daily while spending the remaining time trying other productive activities. Eventually, this will become your habit, and you will never want to miss out reading. Learn new skills Do not stay idle and unproductive during this lockdown. There are tons of free online and app-based resources that can help you learn and develop new skills in a fun way. We understand that you can’t learn everything but learning a skill in a field that you are passionate about or that is tied to your major, is a good head start in this lockdown. You can learn tailoring, coding, graphics designs, Programmeming, website designs and management as it meets your desires. Develop a positive attitude You can develop a positive attitude in the lockdown when you focus on positive choices that will move you closer to your goals. Staying connected with family and friends, whether over the phone or via a video call can make a huge difference because it’s all about having the right mind-set. Make sure your goals are something that you genuinely want – not something you feel like you should want – and spend time considering why each goal is important to you.  Adhere to Covid-19 safety regulations Stay safe and follow all the COVID-19 safety measures such as regular hand washing/frequent use of sanitizers, keeping a distance of at least 6 feet from others and wearing a mask will continue to be some of the most important things students can do to stay safe, while they pursue their career studies.

The COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, has caused a severe impact on higher education. As universities across the country, closed their premises, the students’ community experienced major disruptions in learning. Although Skyline University Nigeria was quick to replace traditional classroom learning with virtual classes, bringing about an expanded learning environment based on digitization that soon compliments the student-teacher relationship. While schools remained closed, the uninterested and ordinary events in school that students take for granted became the things that were most missed. As students prepare to return to school once again on January 18th, 2020 for the 2020/2021 academic session, after much-repeated closures and reopening of schools and ones again to make meaningful contact with people, it is worth remembering what we missed in 2020. Here are a few suggestions. #1 Extra-curricular Activities There is no amount of extra-curricular activities expected of the students’ community. Students tend to create something new every day for the sake of their interest while taking advantage of the university’s facility as well as resources. Getting involved in extracurricular activities has helped students to broaden their interests and build up their CVs as well as portfolios, especially through their participation in career-building opportunities offered by the university.  #2 The Social Life While studying and achieving a degree may be considered a key part of the university, students have considered having an active social life as an important component of the undergraduate years. Whether you want to get involved in societies, Student Union politics or simply enjoy the events being hosted by the university. #3 Making New Friends Making new friends is quite easy at the university. It’s very common to be on the way to the library in the morning and bump into new friends and other friends who will probably be on their way to the university’s library, the same thing applies every day in the campus. #4 Recreational Zone The Sport and Recreation Zone offers a wide range of activities for all sporting interest. The Student Recreation Zone is a primary resource centre for students, faculty, staff and alumni to workout and participate in indoor activities. Who wouldn’t miss this part of the university? #5 Students’ Club Because the university welcomes the contribution made to student life by clubs, societies and other organizations in the university campus, Skyline University Nigeria is working together with the student’s body to ensure students are introduced or welcomed back to as many available opportunities while taking the pandemic into account.

Ever wondered why the majority of today’s graduates are unemployed, despite impressive academic qualifications? Well, most graduates are not employable in any industry/organizations because they lacked the employability skills. They failed to develop what is called soft skills that are necessary for getting, keeping and staying successful in any employment. These soft skills which include time management, emotional intelligence, resilience, empathy, integrity, learnability and leadership skills will enable prospective employers to get along with colleagues, to make critical decisions, solve problems and strongly represent the organization. It is often said in Skyline University Nigeria that academic qualifications & soft skills are inseparable to developing the students’ capacity and not limited only to studies. These activities are part of the students’ experience, so the university has to encourage students’ participation in them. Where these activities are overdone to the extent that they interfere with academic work, students are encouraged to learn to balance it, to accommodate the realities of daily life while allowing students to learn intelligently for better job potential. Soft skills are crucial to developing employable graduates, building a student’s portfolio or curriculum vitae (CV). In Skyline University Nigeria, these aspects of training the students are based on knowledge, skills and value-based educational approach, which are goal-directed, flexible and supportive, and within the students’ curriculum. It is forecasted to close the unfortunate gap between what students learn in the university and what they are expected to know to be job-ready. While academic grades are indicative of how much a candidate has studied while in school, Skyline University Nigeria has substantially increased the value of the student’s degree by adding more time to teaching the students critical soft skills so that they can be able to demonstrate a certain level of people-skills. This opportunity will present a huge opportunity for SUN students to leverage their experience to boost their employability and be a valuable contributor to the development of the economy. We invite you to apply to boost not only your academic skills but your employability. Below are some of the benefits enjoyed by SUN students that you can also be part of. Develop the confidence you need to succeed at work or school Develop skills for success and computer skills to support your goals Improve your study strategies and the likelihood of success in postgraduate Have additional professional certifications as well as business training