A university teacher, Prof. Precious Ede, has tasked the management of the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, Port Harcourt, to revive and deploy learning management system with a view to subjecting itself to global ranking opportunities.
Ede gave the charge at a one-day training on “Resources For Institutional And Individual Academic Enhancement in The 21st Century”, organised by the polytechnic in conjunction with Lynition limited in Port Harcourt.
Ede, who is a Research Professor at the Rivers State University, also stressed the need for the management to ensure versatility in Information Communication Technology infrastructure to connect all its activities.
He also urged the polytechnic to use its location to raise people who will involve in entrepreneurship and other relevant areas of development.
Ede said these areas of development can include the establishment of an automobile industry, adding that the polytechnic has many advantages that should never be ignored.
He advised the institution to “upgrade IT infrastructure, launch a home grown LMS, adopt online learning, and conduct examination for all large classes, especially in introductory years, and develop virtual classes and virtual labs.”
The university don also recommended the “appointment of a Director for Virtual Learning to streamline content development, intensify online transmission of notices and other university transactions, democratise access to data for internet access for all segments of the polytechnic community, amongst others.”
Declaring the event open, Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Sam Kalagbor, said the training was the first of this magnitude to be held in the polytechnic.
Kalagbor said the management has always emphasised on training, noting that it was against this background that some staff of the polytechnic were sponsored for trainings both within and outside the country.
He specifically said the institution has sponsored some of its staff to Ghana, Europe and America for training, while some were sponsored to Lagos and Abuja for similar activities.
While stressing that the event was part of management’s commitment to improve productivity, the Rector, however, observed that some lecturers in the polytechnic only concerned themselves with local publishing, adding that “it is important that some of their work be accepted globally.”
“Part of this event is to understand the common theme on the entire theatre of academics”, he said.
Kalagbor said staff should not bother about spending personal money for training as the Tertiary Education Funds (TETFUND) has provided all the money required for training.
According to him, a dormant fund to the tune of N95 million is yet to be accessed for training.
Earlier, the Chairman, Planning Committee, Dr D. M. Harry, said the event was to build the capacity of staff of the polytechnic with a view to enhancing productivity.
He said there was a relationship between productivity and training, adding that the programme was part of efforts to place the polytechnic on a global map.
Harry noted that CEAPOLY is on the average in Nigeria, but globally not doing very well.
Some lecturers who participitated in the programme, included Mr Damiete Martins, Dr Sidi Chuku, and a female lecturer who spoke under anonymity, commended the guest lecturer for his insight into global academic trends.
They said the event has added more knowledge to them, noting that it has exposed them to processes that will enable them to be read beyond their immediate environment.

BY: John Bibor