ACADEMIC PLANNING, RESEARCH, STATISTICS AND ICT

The Department of Academic Planning, Research, Statistics and ICT is one of the new departments created as a result of the restructuring of the Board. The department was carved out from the former Planning, Research and Statistics department. It has three divisions, namely: Academic Planning, Research & Statistics, and ICT.

 

The department is headed by a Director and three Deputy Directors who head the three divisions. The divisions are: Research and Statistics Division; Academic Planning Division; and ICT Division

 

Functions of Academic Planning, Research, Statistics and ICT Department

The department is to among others, develop policies and programmes for the development of TVET institutions through monitoring and evaluation of academic plans, accurate data collection and verification, preparing statistical reports and digest, coordination of research and innovation, journal publications, review, evaluation and monitoring of curriculum delivery, undertaking tracer studies, ranking of TVET institutions, coordination of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) of polytechnic and monotechnic students, popularization of the use of ICT in the NBTE and Polytechnics and monitoring the establishment of MIS in State and Federal Polytechnics and Monotechnics; liaise with National Planning Commission and other agencies to determine technological manpower needs of the nation, development and periodical review of strategic plans for NBTE.

 

Objectives

The objective of the department is to effectively perform the functions of the Board as they relate to the department. Therefore, in the next Five (5) years, the department will focus on the following:

  • Develop capacity for Polytechnics staff in academic planning, research, innovation and ICT;
  • Develop e-learning resources through the establishment of virtual libraries in NBTE and Polytechnics;
  • Organize the biennial Technology EXPOs to showcase projects and prototypes in the Polytechnics;
  • Increase opportunities for student access and success through adequate monitoring and institutional academic plans;
  • Improve statistical data collection and verification by the introduction of more measures/sanctions to erring and non-cooperating institutions;
  • Acquire necessary ICT hardware and software for the effective function of the Board;
  • Build Capacity of NBTE and Polytechnic staff in ICT in line with the FME Policy on ICT in Education;
  • Carry out ranking of institutions in order to promote healthy competition amongst them in the areas of programmes upgrade, improvement of teaching and learning environment and staff development among others;
  • Coordinate the SIWES programme in an effective and efficient manner and to ensure that students and employers derive the maximum benefits of the scheme; and
  • Sustain the existing culture of research and publication by coordinating the process of publishing the Board's major academic and research journals.

 

Prospects

The key prospect areas for the APRS&ICT in the next five years include:

  • The demand for qualitative and even quantitative technical education in the country will rise as the country's population continues to rise. This rise in demand will inevitably require statistical-based planning in education policy-making, administration and regulation. The department is strategically placed to meet the needs of the TVET sector in general and NBTE in particular to effectively achieve set objectives in this area.
  • Institutional Ranking of Polytechnics: The department, with the full approval and cooperation of management, is committed to the introduction and implementation of a sector-wide process of ranking all polytechnics in the country as a major quality assurance and efficiency-assessment mechanism. The basis for the introduction of ranking among Nigerian polytechnics is to among others: provide the public with information on the standing of these institutions for individual and group decision-making, to foster healthy competition among the institutions, to stimulate the evolution of centres of excellence among the polytechnics and to provide additional rationale for allocation of funds/grants.
  • Library Upgrade and the Introduction of E-Library: The department plans to pursue the process that will lead to the upgrade of the NBTE library into a full-fledged modern information and communication resource centre where current literature in TVET programmes are accessible in hard copies and also online. The progression to an e-library for the NBTE library is only natural in view of the fact that this is the current trend globally. E-libraries widen access to education and make learning easier and more convenient.
  • Research Publications: The department is also focused on resuscitating the key publications of the Board which are produced by it. The Nigerian Journal of Technical Education (NJTE) remains the dominant research journal for TVET in Nigeria. It is the Board's most prestigious publication which is known nationally and internationally for the quality of its contents. The Digest of Statistics is also another major research publication of the department which commands widespread authority for the integrity of its contents.