BSN Presents Propose New Curriculum To NUC.
The Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) has presented a proposed
new curriculum for the teaching of Biotechnology in Nigerian
universities to the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The proposed curriculum, which was developed by BSN, integrates
elements of engineering as well as agricultural, medical and
environmental sciences, among other sciences, to produce a well-rounded
graduate.
Presenting the document last Wednesday, the President of BSN,
Professor Benjamin Ubi, informed the NUC that the curriculum covered all
aspects of Biotechnology, without bias to any particular field. This
would ensure the production of an all-round graduate, with an option of
specialising in any of the major components, at postgraduate level.
The
BSN President commended the Commission’s efforts at ensuring quality in
the NUS, through the accreditation process, saying the process would
continue to guarantee equity, quality and fairness in administration of
university education in Nigeria. He, however, advocated for an inclusion
of members of the society on accreditation panels for the Biotechnology
programme in Nigerian universities.
Welcoming the delegation, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor
Abubakar Rasheed disclosed that the Commission was in the process of
reviewing curricula in the Nigerian University System (NUS) which would
incorporate inputs from all universities and other stakeholders.
He noted that biotechnology was a by-product of the biological
sciences and recalled that NUC was far ahead of the BSN as it had, in
the recent past, consulted renowned Biotechnologists, such as late
Professors Andrew Nok and Muyideen, with a view to reviewing the
existing curriculum on Biotechnology.
Professor Rasheed informed the Society that it was impractical for
the Commission to engage only members of professional bodies for the
accreditation of academic programmes in the NUS and assured BSN of NUC’s
commitment in deploying only competent persons to do accreditation.
He however, requested the Society to compile a list of credible
Professors from BSN, indicating their universities, year of promotion,
as well as areas of specialisation and forward same to the NUC, for
inclusion in the Commission’s database.
The NUC Scribe commended BSN for the development of the curriculum,
adding that, for objectivity, the document would be subjected to further
review by a group of independent professionals, prior to adoption by
the NUS.
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