ACCREDITATION VISIT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT

REPORT OF COREN ACCREDITATION

VISITATION TO THE

UNDERGRADUATE AND POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA

ENGINEERING PROGRAMMES

OF THE

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

           UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT,  

      CHOBA, RIVERS STATE

                 

 

               29TH JANUARY- 2ND FEBRUARY, 2017

 

REPORT OF COREN ACCREDITATION VISITATION TO THE UNDERGRADUATE AND POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES OF THE FACULTY OF   ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT, CHOBA, RIVERS   STATE,  29TH JANUARY- 2ND  FEBRUARY,  2017.

 

  • INTRODUCTION
    • PREAMBLE

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) was established by Decrees No. 55 of 1970 as amended by No. 27 of 1992 (Amendment), now Act CAP E11/2004.  The mandate of COREN is to control and regulate the practice of the Engineering Profession in all its aspects and ramifications.  With this mandate, the Council undertakes accreditation visitations to all Engineering programmes in Universities, Polytechnics and Technical Colleges producing engineering personnel in all cadres of the profession.

In line with the mandate of COREN and to ensure that the standards of knowledge and skill attained by persons seeking to be engineering personnel, the Council constituted a Team of seasoned Engineers from the academia and the industry to assess the five (5) Undergraduate and three (3) post graduate diploma programmes in Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Choba from 29th January – 2nd February, 2017.

  • PREVIOUS ACCREDITATION STATUS

The status of the Engineering programmes before visitation is shown in the table below.

S/N ENGINEERING  PROGRAMMES PREVIOUS STATUS DURATION
                                     UNDERGRADUATE
1. Chemical Engineering Full Accreditation July 2010 – 2015
2. Electrical/Electronic Engineering Full Accreditation July 2010 – 2015
3 Civil Engineering Full Accreditation July 2006 – 2011
4 Mechanical Engineering Full Accreditation May 2006 – 2011
5 Petroleum and Gas Engineering Full Accreditation May 2006 – 2011
                                   POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA
6 Petroleum and Gas Engineering Full Accreditation July 2010 – 2015
7 Mechanical Engineering Full Accreditation July 2010 – 2015
8 Chemical Engineering Full Accreditation July 2010 – 2015

 

  • Accreditation Team Members.

The team members for the accreditation of the engineering programmes, Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Choba are shown on the table below:

S/N NAME DISCIPLINE STATUS
1. Engr. Prof. Adisa Ademola Bello Mechanical Engineering Team Leader
2. Engr. Prof. Onwuzurigbo M. I. Nwafor Mechanical Engineering Member
3. Engr. Prof. Emmanuel Ubiomo Ubeku Elect/Elect Engineering Member
4. Engr. Shuaibu Gani Elect/Elect Engineering Member
5 Engr.Oyebode Oluwadare Joshua Civil Engineering Member
6 Engr. James Onoja Abu Civil Engineering Member
7 Engr. Prof. I. A. Mohammed Dabo Chemical Engineering Member
8 Engr. M. Abdurahman Chemical Engineering Member
9 Engr. Lateef Akinpelu Petroleum Engineering Member
10 Engr. Prof. S. S. Adefila Petroleum Engineering Member
11 Engr. Prof. Felix A. Aisien PGD, Petroleum Member
12 Engr. Prof. C. C. Ihueze PGD, Mechanical Member
13 Engr. Dr. R. H. Gumus PGD Chemical Member
14 Abdullahi M. Jega COREN Headquarters Programme Co-odinator
10 Okoyo Henry Edosa COREN Headquarters Secretary
11 Bennedict Agbonko Port Harcourt Area Office Zonal Officer

 

  • Period of Visitation

The team arrived Port Harcourt on Sunday the 29th of January, 2017 and departed on Thursday the 2nd of February, 2017.

  • Arrival

The team was received by the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Engr. Prof. (Mrs.) M. O. Etebu on Sunday 29th January, 2017. The team was lodged at the Helena Haven Hotel, East-West Road, Choba.

  • Pre-accreditation Meeting:

The team met at the restaurant, Helena Haven Hotel at 8.20pm with the Dean and the heads of department to discuss the modalities on how to carry out the assignment for the period of the accreditation exercise.

The Programme Coordinator, Abdullahi M. Jega welcomed the team members who travelled from different parts of the Country and thanked God for granting the team members journey mercies. He introduced the team leader Engr. Prof. Adisa Ademola Bello to the meeting.

The Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Engr. Prof. (Mrs.) M. O. Etebu expressed her gratitude to the visiting accreditation team and promised to give the team maximum support to the success of the exercise.  She apologized for the delay of the accreditation visit since the expiration of the engineering programmes in the University of Port Harcourt and thanked God for the grace to overcome the challenges.

She introduced the following heads of the departments:

Engr. Prof. Ogbonna Joel, HOD, Petroleum and Gas,

Engr. Dr. C. V. Ossai HOD, Mechanical Engineering,

Engr. Dr. R. Uhumwangho,HOD, Electrical/Electronic Engineering,

Engr. Dr. D. B. Eme, HOD, Civil Engineering.

The COREN team leader Engr. Prof. Adisa Ademola Bello thanked the Dean and the heads of the department for receiving the visiting team members and also appreciated the team members for honoring the national assignment despite their tight schedule.  He urged the team members to be thorough in carrying out the exercise to project the true picture of the visitation.

The COREN files containing the assessment guideline, score sheet and other relevant document for the accreditation were distributed alongside the departmental Self-Study documents to the team members to enable them prepare for the accreditation exercise.

The meeting came to a close at 9.20 pm after exhaustive deliberations by the team and heads of the department.

2.0.   COURTESY CALLS

2.1.   Visit to the Vice Chancellor:

The team arrived the office of the Vice Chancellor at 9.00am for courtesy call. The University public relation officer welcomed the team on behalf of the University and introduced the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ndowa E. S Lale and other management staff in attendance.

The COREN Programme Coordinator introduced the team leader Engr. Prof. Adisa Bello and other members of the team.

The Team leader thanked the Vice Chancellor and the University management for the reception accorded the team so far. He extended the President and Council good wishes to the University.

He informed the Vice Chancellor that accreditation is a regulatory mandate of COREN established by an Act. He submitted that engineering practice is the same everywhere and there is need for the profession to acquire the right skills that will promote engineering practice to compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world.

In his speech, he noted that accreditation is about quality assurance; aimed at ensuring that products of Engineering Programmes in Universities, Polytechnics and Technical Colleges are sound, functional Engineering Personnel that would meet the challenges of society and compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world. Therefore the University should provide adequate facilities to build this capacity.

He also said that COREN accreditation is for partnership and growth, not for witch-hunting.  It is aimed at building, not destroying. But it is also a very strict process; firm and fair. He quoted from the enabling Act, and stressed that running Engineering Programmes that have not been accredited by COREN or continuing with such programmes with expired or failed accreditation status is illegal and in contravention of the Act establishing COREN.

He informed the Vice Chancellor that the Team will reconvene to brief him on the observations at the end of the exercise and only COREN Council that can give the final verdict of the visitation at a later date.

In his response, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Engr. Prof. Anthony Ibe thanked the team for understanding with the University since the programmes visited are expired 2011 and 2015 respectively. He assured the team that the University is prepared for the visitation and pleaded with the team to thread on the ground of peace by forgetting the past and start on a new page. The Vice Chancellor also contributed by thanking the Team again for visiting him before proceeding for the accreditation exercise.

He noted that there are too many accreditations by NUC and other professional bodies and wished that if these bodies can come together with the NUC to have common accreditation, it will save time, stress and the resources involved.

He urged the team to use their engineering skills to promote engineering profession in Nigeria. He buttressed this by saying that the wisdom of the old man is the grey hair and the power of the youth lies on his strength. He therefore encouraged the team to do a good job and also socialize with the environment before going back to their various destinations.

The team had group photograph with the Vice Chancellor and the meeting ended at 9.35am

 

  2.2. Visit to the Dean, Faculty of Engineering

The team visited the Dean of Engineering after courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor at about 9.50am at the Faculty Conference/Seminar room.

The Dean welcomed the team members and thanked them for honouring the invitation to be part of COREN accreditation visit to University of Port Harcourt. She greeted the team in  Ekwere language to show her expression and happiness towards the exercise. She said that Ekwere people are the host Community to the University of Port Harcourt. She introduced the Faculty Professors and the heads of department who were in attendance at the meeting.

The Team leader responded by appreciating the Dean and the Faculty officials. He said the essence of the accreditation visit to the engineering programmes is to ensure that standards are being maintained and kept.  He urged the Dean and heads of department to be open and share information with the team during the tour of facilities to enable the team do meticulous job that will show the true picture of the University. He thanked the Dean and the heads of department for their good gesture accorded to the team.

In his contribution, the Director of the University wide accreditation Committee, Prof. Julian O. Osuji, thanked the team for visiting the University. He said that he will be an observer and the University will cooperate with the team for the success of the exercise.

The meeting ended at 10.15am and the team proceeded to visit the common facilities.     

  • COMMON FACILITIES

The Team toured the following Common facilities used by the Faculty of Engineering:

3.1     University Library:

The Team visited the Donald E.U Ekong library and was received by the University librarian, Dr. Mrs. S. N Umeozor.  The librarian informed the team that the general library capacity is 3000.

The Librarian took the team members round the library. Below are the facilities

  1. Intranet library – 16 systems were available
  2. E-library – 24 systems were also available
  • Journals centre – 100 seating capacity
  1. Reference centre – 100 seating capacity
  2. Information and Communication Technology Centre (ICTC) – 113 seating capacity.

3.2.   Thermofluid Laboratory

         The Laboratory consists of the following equipment:

  1. Air compressor
  2. Precision balance
  • Water flow rates
  1. Insulator Tester
  2. Turbidity meter
  3. Micro centrifuge
  • Water proof PH meters
  • Dissolved oxygen meter
  1. Hydraulic machine
  2. Cooling system machine
  3. Pneumatics machine

 

3.3.    Science and Engineering Workshop:

The Team also visited the University workshop and inspected the following Machines.

  1. 2 Shaping machines
  2. 2 Band machines
  3. 2 Milling machines
  4. 3 Pillar machines
  5. 2 Power hard saw machines
  6. Precision grinding machine
  7. 5 Lathe Machines
  8. Sharing machine
  9. 2 Bending Machine
  10. Hookforming machine
  11. 2 Rewinding machines
  12. Hydraulic press Machine
  13. Table grinding Machine
  14. 2 CNC Milling Machines
  15. Surface Machine
  16. Welding machine

       

3.4.   Drawing studio:

          168 seating capacity were seen and the studio undergoing renovation.

3.5. Lecture Hall:

The team visited some of the University lecture halls as follows:

  1. Faculty University halls of 6 lecture halls for 150 students each,
  2. The ETF lecture room for 250 capacity
  • The central Bank of Nigeria building for 250 students
  1. 10 classrooms with each seating capacity of 84 students
  2. Lecture hall II seating capacity 320 students.
  3. General lecture hall – 1,000 seating capacity with Public Address System.

 

3.6.   Power option Engineering Office.

The Power option engineering building is under construction as at the time of   the visitation.

3.7.   Office Accommodation

Staff offices are adequately furnished. The Professor’s office has a toilet and secretarial office. The HODs offices were also seen and found adequate.

3.7.   General Observations:

The Team observed the following during the assessment of the common    facilities:

  1. Library
  2. The library building was spacious with enough seating for students
  3. The environment was neat, friendly, documentary and well ventilated.

 

  1. Central Workshop
  2. The Staff of the workshop, Technologists and Technicians that are not registered were advised to register with their professional bodies and be in COREN register.

          iii. Lecture Hall

  1. Some of the lecture halls were not conducive for learning, the team said that they should be provided with Air condition and Fans
  2. The 1000 lecture hall capacity needs proper supervisions and coordination of students.
  3. It was observed that some halls had no Public Address Systems. The team however was informed that because of student’s rampage and destruction of University properties, the Public Address Systems were removed.
  1. Drawing Studio:
  2. The tables in the studio were not conducive for student drawing. The screw used to fixed the tables may injure the students.
  3. The studio was undergoing renovations.
  • DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMES ASSESSMENT

The team broke up into syndicate groups after touring the common facilities to assess the programmes in the various departments.

The syndicate group toured the departmental facilities, interviewed and interacted with all the lecturers, technical staff and administrative staff. They also studied the files on staff recruitment and development practices, inspected students project reports, external examiners reports, sample examination questions and scripts.

  • The reports of the syndicate groups are attached.
  • SUMMARY OF THE ACCREDITATION

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN visited five (5) undergraduate and three (3) post graduate diploma in engineering programmes of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt from Sunday 29th January to Thursday 2nd February, 2017.

The summary of the programmes visited are showed below:

S/N ENGINEERING  PROGRAMMES SCORE RECOMMENDATION
                                   UNDERGRADUATE
1. Mechanic Engineering 72% Full Accreditation
2. Electrical/Electronic Engineering      74% Full Accreditation
3. Civil Engineering      77.8% Full Accreditation
4. Chemical Engineering 80.5% Full Accreditation
5 Petroleum and Gas Engineering      76% Full Accreditation
                                POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA
6 Petroleum and Gas Engineering     76% Full Accreditation
7 Mechanical Engineering     72% Full Accreditation
8 Chemical Engineering     78% Full Accreditation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • EXIT MEETING WITH THE  VICE CHANCELLOR

 

The team again visited the Vice Chancellor to brief him on the observations of the accreditation exercise.  The team was received by the University management staff at the Vice Chancellor Conference Room and the exit meeting commenced at 9.20am with brief introduction.

In his exit address, the team leader expressed the members’ gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, DVC, Management team, the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, the Heads of Department, Director of the University wide Accreditation Committee and the entire staff and students of the Faculty of Engineering for the warm reception accorded the team members during their brief stay in the University.

The team leader reemphasized what he said on his speech presented during the team courtesy call to the Vice Chancellor, that accreditation by COREN is for partnership and growth and not for witch-hunting. It is aimed at building, not destroying. But is also a very strict process; firm but fair.

He said that the team has in the past few days of its stay in the University, gone round to inspect the common facilities used by the faculty of engineering including the library, the workshops, laboratories, classrooms and the lecture halls.

He also informed the Vice Chancellor that the team interacted with some of the non-academics and the academic staff. The team also went through the academic records of the students, assessed their admission requirement, their course works, in addition to their laboratory/Industrial training reports. The team also looked at the files of the academic and non-academic staff to ascertain, their academic and professional qualifications, the entire academic curriculum to determine its adequacy in terms of professional requirement.

 

The team leader therefore pointed out the following observations:

  1. Physical Facilities:
  2. The Central workshop should be renamed Engineering workshop to cater for the Faculty of engineering and should be manned by a COREN Registered Technologist. Also a standby generator of at least 100KVA capacity should be provided.
  3. The Engineering workshop needs to be upgraded with modern facilities such as industrial CNC machines: milling, grinding, drilling, lathe etc. The welding section needs gas welding and provision of welding booths. There should be improved lightening, posters and installation of extraction fans. The workshop can generate IGR for the University
  4. The new building facilities in the Faculty of Engineering are highly appreciated and the team wishes that appropriate furnishings are put in place.
  1. Staff Development:
  2. There is urgent need for recruitment of junior academics like Graduate Assistants and Assistant Lecturers. Currently some departments had none.
  3. There is need to sponsor staff to attend Conferences, Seminars and Workshops within and outside the Country.
  4. Academic and Technical staff should be encouraged to register with COREN and other professional bodies (example: NSE, NATE, NISET, etc).
  1. Laboratories:
  2. The Faculty requires separate laboratories for metallurgy, metrology, production, foundry, telecommunication and power.
  3. In the existing laboratories, there is urgent need to upgrade the equipment and replace out of date and non-functional ones.
  1. Libraries:
  2. Central library is equipped with relevant electronic and hard copy materials required for the training of engineering students. This is commendable.
  3. The Faculty and departmental libraries need to be connected to the central library through the provision of internet facility. This is important for students to access materials from any of the options available.

The team leader concluded by commending the Faculty of Engineering for the cordial relationship among the staff from Professors to the other cadres and should be sustained. He said that the team members are grateful to the Vice Chancellor and his principal staff, the Dean and HODs and members of the Faculty Engineering for making the assignment easy.

In his response, the Vice Chancellor commended the team for a job well done.  He said that the observations raised by the team were not for argument but to be implemented for the growth of engineering in the Faculty. He assured the team that when they visit the University next time, there will be tremendous changes. He therefore pledged his commitment to address the issues raised by the team immediately and wished the team members safe trip to their various destinations.

The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering gave the vote of thanks and the meeting ended at 9.50am.

  • APPRECIATION

The Team members expressed their appreciation to the Council and the President of COREN for the opportunity given them to serve in this National assignment for the accreditation of engineering programmes of University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt.

Engr. Prof. Adisa Ademola Bello

Team Leader

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