FUDMA Vice Chancellor Pushes for Enhanced Collaboration Among Researchers

FUDMA Vice Chancellor Pushes for Enhanced Collaboration Among Researchers

By Imrana Usman

The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Professor Mohammed Khalid Othman, has stressed the need to strengthen academic collaboration among researchers as a strategic approach to tackling pressing societal issues.

Professor Othman spoke during the second edition of the Virtual Seminar Series organized by the University’s Department of Human Kinetics, where he maintained that such collaborative efforts are essential for the advancement of teaching and learning in Nigerian universities.

He highlighted the significant disparities that currently exist between research projects conducted in Nigeria and those undertaken in developed countries.

Prof. Othman stressed that these dichotomies must be systematically addressed to ensure Nigerian research remains relevant and impactful on the global stage.

“Teamwork and collaborations must be revived to achieve meaningful success in our research endeavours,” the Vice Chancellor said, emphasizing that isolated research efforts often fall short of producing the transformative outcomes needed to address complex societal challenges.

He praised the guest presenter for his expert presentation and insightful perspectives on pertinent academic issues and urged him to maintain existing partnerships with FUDMA through continued collaborations and joint research initiatives.

Prof. Othman encouraged the Department of Human Kinetics to continue the seminar series,  focusing on topical and contemporary issues relevant to both academic development and societal progress.

The seminar featured Prof. Isa Usman from the Department of Physiotherapy at the Bayero University Kano (BUK), who delivered a thought-provoking presentation titled “Arts and Science of Students’ Project Supervision”.

Prof. Usman’s presentation highlighted several critical aspects of effective project supervision:Redefining Project Purpose:

The professor advocated for a fundamental shift in the intent of student project work, moving from a narrow focus on graduation requirements toward creating meaningful societal impact that extends beyond academic fulfilment.

He emphasized that the human dimension is a responsibility that every project supervisor must embrace, saying supervision should go beyond academic guidance to include mentorship and holistic student development.

Prof. Usman proposed a reconceptualization of the traditional project defense, suggesting that what is commonly called a “defense” should, in reality, be viewed as an interactive session that fosters intellectual exchange and constructive dialogue rather than adversarial confrontation.

He stressed that timely project completion should be a shared responsibility between supervisors and students, noting that delays can occur from either party and must be managed through mutual understanding and commitment.

The speaker recommended that check and balance mechanisms should become the norm in project supervision, ensuring quality control and maintaining academic standards throughout the research process.

The seminar series, now in its second edition, reflects FUDMA’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and addressing systemic challenges in Nigerian higher education.

The emphasis on collaboration and innovative supervision approaches aligns with broader efforts to enhance research quality and graduate outcomes across Nigerian universities.

As Nigerian institutions continue to navigate the evolving landscape of higher education, such discussions on research collaboration and effective supervision practices are expected to contribute significantly to improving the quality of academic outputs and their relevance to national development priorities.