FUDMA to unveil research journal, push for more TETFund support
The new Director of Research, Innovation and Development of Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Prof. Aminu Dalhat Kankia says his main priority is to begin the publication of a comprehensive research journal showcasing the research output of the university’s academic community.
Prof Kankia, who assumed duty in June, said in an interview that the directorate would establish the FUDMAResearch Journal “capable of showcasing the research output of our academic community”.
He explained that the journal would not be restricted to a particular discipline, but accommodate research contributions across various academic fields.
Already, he said a request has been forwarded to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Khalid Othman, seeking funding support for academic staff towards the production of research journals.
According to him, the Vice Chancellor has approved a seminar for academic staff as part of series of academic development activities designed to improve research capacity among members of the academic community.
Prof Kankia said that the Directorate hopes to conduct the seminar at least four times each academic session, to strengthen research culture, academic writing and publication among FUDMA scholars.
He outlined major responsibilities of the Directorate to include the coordination of various Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions designed to support research, academic development, staff training and institutional growth.
“The Directorate normally receives information and approval from TETFund before forwarding the request to the Vice Chancellor for consideration. Following the approval, the Directorate advertises Conference opportunities to academic and non-teaching staff, who are then invited to apply. Applications are screened in accordance with established guidelines, after which successful candidates are forwarded to TETFund for final consideration and approval. The Directorate is currently processing another round of conference applications”.
On the Institutional-Based Research (IBR) programme through which academic staff undertake research projects, Prof. Kankia said that the university recently secured approval for 35 research projects, which are awaiting funds disbursement.
He said this is a significant boost to research activities at FUDMA, stressing that research remains central to the development and advancement of any university.
The Director also said they have been facilitating TETFund support for the conversion of academic manuscripts into books.
“Many professors and senior lecturers have manuscripts they had developed over the years but lacked the resources to publish them. TETFund provides funding to facilitate the publication and wider circulation of such academic works.”
He disclosed that nine academic books authored by FUDMA staff have so far been published through the intervention.
”This is an important milestone in promoting scholarship and ensuring that the intellectual contributions of the University’s academics reach a wider audience,” the Director said.
Prof Kankia pledged to strengthen academic staff training and development to enhance the intellectual capacity of the institution’s academic community.
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