Thomas Adewumi University Hosts KnowledgeX August Edition on Effective Pedagogy for Gen-Z Students: ‘What We Teach Vs What Students Grasp’

Thomas Adewumi University (TAU) held the August Edition of its monthly KnowledgeX Series on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. The session, themed “What We Teach vs What Students Grasp,” brought together scholars, faculty members, and virtual participants within and outside the University.

Dignitaries in attendance included the Founder and Chancellor, Engr. Dr. Johnson Adewumi; the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Oladipo; and other principal officers.

The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Samuel Farohunbi, who emphasized the need for reflective teaching practices that align with the learning patterns of Gen-Z students. He explained that the purpose of the exercise was to assess students’ performance in the 2024/2025 academic session while exploring impr

oved pedagogical approaches for the new session.

Quoting educationist John Dewey, Dr. Farohunbi reminded participants that “we do not learn from experience; we learn from reflecting on experiences.” He urged lecturers to critically re-examine the curriculum to ensure that learning outcomes are not only taught but also internalized and applied by students.

Highlighting demographic data, he noted that most TAU students fall within the Gen-Z bracket (ages 17–20), whose learning styles often differ from traditional lecture-based methods. He presented statistics from the previous academic session:

• 255 students graduated with First Class
• 455 students with Second Class Upper
• 330 students with Second Class Lower
• 210 students with Third Class

While commending these achievements, Dr. Farohunbi pointed out the urgent need for more student-centered teaching strategies.

He identified the gap between conventional lecture delivery and Gen-Z learning preferences as a major challenge. To bridge this gap, he recommended:

• Small group discussions
• Student-led presentations
• Co-teaching strategies
• Continuous feedback through post-class surveys

He stressed that timely feedback enables lecturers to adapt their methods quickly, thereby improving comprehension and student performance.

The session concluded with an interactive feedback segment where participants shared their reflections. The Registrar, Mr. Kolawole Fisoye, further emphasized that lecturers should prioritize gathering feedback from students throughout the semester rather than waiting until examinations.

In his remarks, the Chancellor, Engr. Dr. Johnson Adewumi, commended the evidence-based approach of the lecture, describing it as a timely response to his concerns about graduate quality at TAU. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Oladipo, closed the event by applauding the facilitator’s insightful presentation and urging staff to approach the new academic year with renewed commitment.

Thomas Adewumi University remains dedicated to producing innovative, responsible, and globally competitive graduates who will transform society.