TASFUED, Kent State University Forge Partnership to Strengthen Innovation and Research

Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Ijagun, has partnered with Kent State University, United States of America, to strengthen faculty capacity in innovative teaching, research, mentoring, artificial intelligence and scholarship, in a major step towards advancing the University’s global academic profile.

The partnership will be driven through the College Innovation Institute, themed “Teaching, Mentoring, and Scholarship for Impact,” which is designed to equip early-career academics across TASFUED’s 27 Departments with the knowledge, skills and practical tools needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving higher education environment.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Oladipo, MNPA, CMCPN, MCAN, FIELPN, disclosed this following a strategic meeting of the Faculty Innovation Institute Facilitation Team held in collaboration with Kent State University.

Prof. Oladipo said the initiative formed part of the University’s deliberate efforts to establish TASFUED as a leading institution for research, innovation, transformative teaching and international academic engagement.

He explained that the Institute would commence with in-person training in October, following two pre-Institute sessions, and would subsequently feature a 30-day virtual implementation phase during which participants would translate their learning into practical outcomes within their respective academic contexts.

According to him, the programme would focus on:

• Innovative teaching and learning
• Artificial intelligence and assessment
• Postgraduate mentoring
• Research methodology and scholarship
• Research and grant development
• Educational technology and digital transformation
• Practical innovation and data-informed practice

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the programme had been designed to move beyond conventional training by requiring participants to develop practical products, implement their learning and share their experiences and outcomes with the wider University community.

The strategic meeting was led by Dr. M. Amanda Johnson, Director of the Gerald H. Read Centre for International and Intercultural Education, Kent State University, USA, and attended by the Director, Directorate of Research and External Relations, TASFUED, Prof. Adefunke Ekine, alongside other members of the facilitation team.

Other members of the team are Dr. Adewale Kayode, Institute Co-Lead, who brings expertise in educator leadership, innovation, the Nigerian educational context and participant mentoring; Dr. Caroline Obiageli Emeka, with expertise in critical thinking, research methodology, curriculum and programme development, faculty development and scholarship; and Olalekan Adeeko, who leads the practical artificial intelligence and digital innovation components of the programme.

Prof. Oladipo noted that the multidisciplinary composition of the facilitation team would provide participants with broad exposure to contemporary developments in international education, research, innovation, critical thinking, curriculum development, artificial intelligence and educational technology.

He stressed that the future of higher education would increasingly depend on institutions capable of effectively integrating teaching, research, technology, innovation and societal impact.

“TASFUED is committed to building an academic environment where faculty members would be empowered to function not only as teachers, but also as researchers, innovators, mentors and problem-solvers whose scholarship responds to real-world challenges,” Prof. Oladipo added.

He further added that emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, would be responsibly integrated into teaching and assessment, while TASFUED scholars would be positioned to compete and collaborate confidently on the global academic stage.

He described the collaboration with Kent State University as an important opportunity for TASFUED academics to learn globally, adapt knowledge locally and generate solutions with national and international relevance.

He further noted that the University was deliberately building a culture in which innovation would become a continuous institutional practice, research would translate into measurable impact, and mentorship would contribute to developing the next generation of scholars.

The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed the determination of the University to move beyond being a participant in the transformation of education to becoming a driver of educational transformation.

The initiative is consistent with TASFUED’s stated mission of enhancing teaching and learning while continuously updating the methods and skills of knowledge providers through modern technology and globally relevant academic practices.

It will be recalled that Dr. Amanda paid a visit to the University last year, where she met with the University Management.