Interim Dean of the School of Engineering, Dr. Abel Ajibesin, said management skills must be learned alongside technical skills being taught in engineering programs.
Prof Ajibesin was addressing the inaugural town hall of students in the school on November 8, 2019.
The meeting focused on curriculum and advising with students interacting with the dean, program chairs as well as faculty and academic advisors.
"You are here because of your primary curriculum. At the same time, I am charging you to develop the management skills that accommodate your extra-curricular skills so that you will be well rounded."
The dean said it is important for students to have a plan based on their curriculum. This plan will have courses they have done, those they are currently doing and those yet to be done marked as such.
Dr. Ajibesin also told students that the engineering curriculum was designed to equip them with the ability to proffer solutions to problems. To achieve this, different schemes such as collaboration with industry through visitation and internship where students can gain exposure and understanding of how engineers meet societal needs.
The professor said there are many ways to support the concept of transforming them into problem-solvers, one of which is the provision of a classroom environment that is serene and equipped with a world-class, state-of-the-art laboratory. These will inspire the students to be more creative.
He added that all the five engineering programs are designed to be recognized world-wide including among graduate schools for those who want to further their studies.
"We are striving to have international recognition with a body like the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)."
He recalled President Dekle's mandate to make AUN a thought leader in Nigeria as regards the curriculum of the future. He said the school is exposing its students to emerging technology in the areas of machine learning, big data, and the Internet of Things, among others.
He encouraged both faculty members and students to associate themselves with both international and local engineering organizations such as the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Recognizing that the engineering program is very demanding, Chair of the Engineering Program, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Hussaini, said the school is providing a lot of support to make them succeed but they have to demonstrate the willingness to commit time and effort to become successful.
Another Associate Professor in the School Dr. Behrouz Aslani, explained his specialty, saying he would help train them to manage a company, especially one that involves technology.
The Academic Advisor, Cosmas Izuchukwu, reminded the students to consult him when they need help.
"I'm here to help make your dreams more purposeful."
The town hall provided an avenue for interactive discourse on the optimization of the engineering curriculum with key faculty players sharing expertise on creative solutions.
Reported by Omorogbe Omorogiuwa