UNIMED lecturers must have training in pedagogy – VC

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo town, Ondo State, has said the varsity has come up with a policy that requires all lecturers of the institution to have training in pedagogy.

This, he said, was part of the efforts of the university towoards effective human development capacity in the area of medical and science education.

The Don made this known at the second Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe Distinguished Lecture, held on the campus of the institution.

The lecture was titled, ‘Imperatives of transforming health profession education in Nigeria’, and delivered by Professor Emiola Olapade-Olaopa of the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

The UNIMED VC reiterated that the  intentional mission of the school was to offer high-quality education across all health-related sciences and professional fields.

He said, “As a university, we have invested in training our teachers in the science and practice of effective teaching, drawing on the resources of educational experts in science education, pedagogy and curriculum development in that process.

“Our policy now requires all our university teachers to have training in pedagogy and related teaching issues. The development and use of courseware is now standard practice across our university as we have developed the capacity of our teachers in that respect.

The don noted that the varsity had established a Centre for Health Professions and Biomedical Education last year to drive the agenda of educating university-based health and medical teachers in the art and science of teaching and ensure quality teaching and learning across all our 26 courses spread over nine faculties and two Schools.

“That centre has 10 staff today, including six educational technology and media production experts, and fully functional radio and television studios. It started its educational online radio a few months back and the television is already set to take off.  The centre’s integrated clinical simulation facility is set to take off soon as the building to house it has been completed and is being currently painted.

“Among others, the building will also host the 3D e-learning facilities that will allow, among others, virtual anatomical dissection as we demonstrated during the launch of the Co-Creation Hub a few weeks back. We shall be fully deploying these facilities for enhanced and innovative teaching and learning in the new academic session, which is starting in October.”

In the lecture, the guest lecturer, Prof. Olopade-Olaopa identified lack of investment in human capital as a major challenge to health professions education in Nigeria.

He pointed out that education and health were major determinants of human capital required for development.

According to him, “Transformation of health professions education faces unique challenges that demand unique solutions. It requires transformation of all sectors, but especially education and health.

“The processes must start from family units and communities but should involve all stakeholders and there should be overall goal, which must be national development,” the don stated.

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