Strategic Training for Quality Higher Education Graduates: Achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4)
Orji, Evelyn Ijeoma; Idika, Delight Omoji & Victor Ekwukoma
Institute of Education University of Calabar-Nigeria
Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Abuja
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Abstract
Poor quality graduates and poor work adjustment among the work force are some contemporary challenges of higher education training in many societies. Affected graduates usually lack the technical skills, attitudes and competencies required to perform effectively when employed. Often times, difficulties to cope with the demands and expectations of the work environment put some at risk of job loss and redundancy; hence, undermining the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG:4). Poor quality graduate outputs have been blamed on diverse factors which include: personal, institutional and socio-cultural. However, this study is focused on the institutional factors. The position of this paper is that institutional inputs which cover training have to be more strategic and progressive for the production of high skilled workforce that are competitive both locally and globally. This will enhance the achievement of UN SDG: 4, which is targeted at enhancing learning for the acquisition of vocational and technical skills for decent work as well as for global citizenship in a global world. Based on the aim of addressing learning gaps among graduates, this paper stresses the need for instructional inputs to be in tandem with global best practices, while adapting indigenous resources (value system) to impart learners, cognitively and affectively. The paper recommends that higher education institutions should leverage the training strategies pointed out in this paper to enhance quality of graduates and future labour force that can contribute to sustainable national development.
Keywords: Higher Education, Strategic Training, Quality Graduate, Sustainable
Cite this article
APA 7th Style
Orji, E. I., Idika, D. O., & Ekwukoma, V. (2023). Strategic Training for Quality Higher Education Graduates: Achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 02(02), 148–161. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7580
MLA 9th Edition
Orji, Evelyn Ijeoma, et al. “Strategic Training for Quality Higher Education Graduates: Achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4).” Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 02, no. 02, Apr. 2023, pp. 148–61. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7580.
Chicago Style
Orji, Evelyn Ijeoma, Delight Omoji Idika, and Victor Ekwukoma. “Strategic Training for Quality Higher Education Graduates: Achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4).” Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal 02, no. 02 (April 19, 2023): 148–61. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7580.
Impact statement
The impact of this study can be measured from the ideas it established for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: 4, which is targeted at enhancing learning for the acquisition of vocational and technical skills for decent work as well as for global citizenship in a global world. The paper emphasized the idea of making institutional inputs more strategic and progressive for the production of high skilled workforce that will be competitive both locally and globally for the achievement of SDG:4. Significantly also, this paper stresses the need for instructional inputs in Nigerian universities to meet global best practices, while adapting indigenous resources (value system) to impart learners, cognitively and affectively.
In summary, the thoughts advanced in this paper will help authorities of higher education institutions, particularly in Nigeria; enhance quality of graduates and future labour force that can contribute to sustainable national development.
About The Author
Dr Evelyn Ijeoma Orji, is a very passionate university lecturer and researcher. Her PhD is in Educational Psychology obtained in 2021. Besides, administrative responsibilities in her institute( Students advisor, examination officer,etc).Her research interest majorly focuses on educational, social and personality psychology; school intervention, which extends to developing socio-emotional skills of students, discipline and students’ rights advocacy. These include; for equitable and inclusive school conditions that favours special needs,poverty alleviation among women and the girl child..Her special interest is in issues of study habits, peace and climate action. In the area of study habits, she assists students to construct memories of their learning through effective use of memory strategies. In terms of peace,she is particular about developing peace building skills in basic learners to become future peace advocates and ambassadors. In the area of climate action, her drive has been on sensitization and awareness creation on climate change mitigation and adaptation through adoption of greening measures, technologies and sustainable lifestyle. Dr Evelyn I. Orji has attended more than twenty conferences (local, international, and Zoom format). She has forty (40) research papers spread across books, book of proceedings and reputable journals. She is an Interdisciplinary researcher. She has bagged two academic awards; 1. The best graduating postgraduate student of the prestigious University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria (2021), 2. The Education Excellence Award-2022 of the International Council for Education Research and Training ( Nov. 26,2022).She is a member of the team that won the Telfund NRF 2020 on "Development and Standardization of Test Batteries for Identification of Giftedness in Nigeria, headed by Dr Oluseyi Dada, of the University of Calabar .Dr Evelyn Ijeoma Orji is a member of Nigeria Council of Educational Psychologist (NCEP) and Nigeria chapter of the World Council on Curriculum and Instruction ( WCCIC). She is a mother of four children.
Dr Delight Omoji Idika is a Senior Lecturer from the Department of Educational Foundations who is currently serving on Secondment ( as Senior Research Fellow) to coordinate the research needs at the Institute of Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria. She has her interests in Educational Research & Statistics, Assessment, Measurement & Evaluation, and also teaches Philosophical and Historical Foundations of Education, Economics, Office Management along side intense supervision, training and mentoring of young researchers at the undergraduate and post graduate student levels.
She is an award member of ICERT, member of several other professional associations, and has published extensively in local and international Journals to her credit.
Dr Delight can be contacted at Email: delightoidika@yahoo.com
Victor Ekwukoma is a creative writer, communications specialist and an educational researcher. He holds a B A (Ed) degree in English and Literature with Second Class Honours (Upper Division), a Master's and a PhD in Sociology of Education. He is an academic staff of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Abuja. A prolific writer with multiple awards, Victor has to his credit over 100 academic publications including books and scholarly journal articles published in reputable national and international journals. His areas of research interest include deviance, social dynamics, gender, educational policies and implementation strategies.
E-mail: ekwukomavictor@yahoo.com
Mobile: 07031300141
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