Skyline University Nigeria

Research

Faculty Development Program 6-3-2025

Human Resource Department hosts Faculty Development Program on Ethics in Academics and Research

The Human Resource Department at Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) recently hosted a Faculty Development Program focused on ethics in academics and research. This initiative emphasized the importance of upholding ethical standards in teaching and scholarly work, equipping faculty members with the necessary principles and strategies to foster academic integrity. By addressing key ethical concerns, the program reinforced the university’s commitment to maintaining a fair, responsible, and transparent academic environment. During the training, faculty members were guided on best practices to ensure fairness in the classroom, treat students with respect, and adhere to ethical guidelines in research. The discussions highlighted the role of educators in shaping a culture of trust and accountability, encouraging them to integrate ethical principles into their teaching methods and research activities. This approach not only strengthens faculty credibility but also sets a strong foundation for students to develop a deep appreciation for academic honesty. By focusing on ethical standards, the Faculty Development Program aimed to create an academic environment built on integrity, responsibility, and respect for knowledge. Faculty members explored ways to prevent misconduct, maintain transparency in their work, and uphold the highest ethical standards in research publications. The program also provided insights into handling ethical dilemmas, reinforcing the importance of honesty in scholarly contributions. Ultimately, this initiative underscores Skyline University Nigeria’s dedication to academic excellence and ethical awareness. By equipping faculty with essential ethical frameworks, the university continues to foster a culture of trust within the academic community. Through ongoing development programs, faculty members are better prepared to navigate ethical challenges and contribute positively to the advancement of knowledge and education. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria  

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KNOWLEDGE UPDATE 22-1-2024

Revolutionizing Drug Discovery: The role of AI in Accelerating Vaccine Development

Introduction Drug discovery is the process of identifying potential novel pharmaceuticals. It touches on a number of scientific domains, such as pharmacology, chemistry, and biology. Flemming (2018) asserts that drug discovery is a process through which new medications against diseases are discovered. It involves the use of a wide variety of technologies and expertise. In general, discovering and developing a drug takes US$2.8 billion and 15 years on average. According to Bali and Bali (2022), reports of drug design using artificial intelligence (AI) and computational techniques have increased recently. The reason behind this is because big data, or data sets derived by contemporary biological procedures, have grown to be enormous, complicated, and multidimensional, and traditional computing methods are unable to handle them accurately enough. The role of AI in Vaccine Development These days, artificial intelligence is a strong tool that permeates almost every aspect of our life. It uses a computer to conduct research, pick up patterns from the available dataset, “think,” and apply what it has learned to generate specific predictions. Today AI has profoundly advanced the field of healthcare through the introduction of a greater degree of automation, convenience and higher accuracy and precision in diagnostic and therapeutic care (Davenport & Kalakota, 2019). Bali and Bali (2022) assert that “with the introduction of robotic technologies, medical personnel are being relieved of usual routine tasks, thus allowing them to concentrate more on more crucial aspects of patient care, but the robots are actually assisting surgeons during surgical procedures. In some cases, computer algorithms are actually outmatching the capabilities of radiologists in the detection of malignancy in tumors”. They explain that “machine learning can accurately predict several compound properties like target binding affinity, membrane transport properties, and toxicity aspects, pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamics parameters without the need for an actual synthesis of the compounds or their evaluation”. Modern technology has grown and developed in the 21st century in a way that has never been witnessed before for the good of society. The medical and healthcare industries have benefited greatly from AI and ML technologies, which are predicted to reach a $45.2 billion industry by 2025. Medical staff may now focus more on critical parts of patient care as a result of the advent of robotic technologies, which relieve them of monotonous work. However, during surgical procedures, the robots are really helping doctors. (Alca´cerac & Cruz-Machado, 2019). In many instances, computer algorithms are genuinely surpassing radiologists’ skills in identifying malignancy within tumors. AI is being used to lessen the hazards that humans represent to patients and healthcare workers in a number of areas, including automated patient room disinfection, blood sample collection and transportation, preservation, and analysis (Oztemel & Gursev, 2020). Conclusion Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a very good development in the world of drug discovery. With the current wave of the rise of new epidemics and pandemics, it can be utilized to effectively birth drugs and medical support that will conquer the diseases. Surely the continuous advancement in technology and innovation will only motivate scientists – microbiologists and researchers to do more work in drug discovery. References Alca´cerac, V., & Cruz-Machado, V. (2019). Scanning the industry 4.0: A literature review on technologies for manufacturing systems. Engineering Science and Technology, An International Journal, 22, 899–919. Bali, A. & Bali, N. (2022). Role of artificial intelligence in fast-track drug discovery and vaccine development for COVID-19 In Novel AI and Data Science Advancements for Sustainability in the Era of COVID-19. Elsevier Inc. Davenport, T., & Kalakota, R. (2019). The potential for artificial intelligence in healthcare. Future Healthcare Journal, 6(2), 94–98. Fleming, N. (2018). How artificial intelligence is changing drug discovery. Nature 557, S55–S57. Oztemel, E., & Gursev, S. (2020). Literature review of industry 4.0 and related technologies. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 31(4), 127–182. Abdulsalam Mustapha is a Lecturer II in the Department of Microbiology at Skyline University Nigeria. He has completed his MSc in Microbiology from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, where he specialized in Industrial and Pharmaceutical Microbiology.

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Skyline University Nigeria participates in QS Africa Forum 2023

Skyline University Nigeria has participated in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Africa Forum 2023 with the theme ‘Education Africa 2030 and Beyond – Sustainability and Social Impact in an African Context’. The vice-chancellor of SUN, Prof. Ajith Kumar V. V., participated in a panel discussion to engage and network with higher education experts from around the world on the topic ‘Building Partnerships for Educational Sustainability in Africa”. The two-day event that happened from the 4th to the 5th of September 2023, was hosted by Covenant University in Ota, Ogun State. It was a convention of academics, industry experts, and stakeholders from across the continent to discuss critical issues in higher education, research, and innovation. The QS is a British establishment known for its university and college rankings. Delivering his remarks during the panel discussion moderated by Ms. Omolola Shonubi, the Vice-Chancellor of SUN stated that the congregation is highly important for universities to network so as to find sustainable solutions to their problems. He explained that SUN has done an impressive job of integrating technology into learning, research, and community service. Other participants who spoke at the forum include former, Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director – Africa, Middle East & South Asia, QS United Kingdom, Consul General of Ghana to Nigeria Ms. Samata Gifty Bukari, the Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Peter Akinsola Okebukola, the Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David O. Oyedepo among other stakeholders. SUN staff who attended the event include the Director of Marketing and Communications (DOMC), Mr. Abubakar Isma’il, the Dean School of Basic Medical Sciences (SBMS), Dr. Isah Usman Lawal, Head of the Department of Political Science, Mr. Farid Ilyasu Illo, the Head of Corporate Affairs Department, Mr. Nitish Varkhede, Dr. Ajayi Olumide Abraham, Mr. Trimisiyu Omotayo Lawal, Mr. Miracle Livinus Uwa and Mr. Aliyu Usman from the marketing department. The congregation engaged professionals and stakeholders in the education industry to collaboratively shape the future of higher education and development in Africa. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria

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