Research has not really been a strong practice here in Africa, as it is mostly relegated to just being a requirement for graduation. In Nigeria for instance, thousands of young people graduate yearly from the country’s tertiary institutions, but their dissertations and theses are hardly useful outside the library. The researches are generally considered to be far from real world events. But thanks to CCHub, all of that is about to change.
The Co-Creation Hub (CCHub) has found an innovative way to help make academic research more beneficial. The innovation center has instituted the African Universities Innovation Accelerator (AUIA) program. According to information on its website, the AUIA will provide a platform for the “result of academic research to filter back into industry and society.”
Are you a researcher in an African university? Sign up for the opportunity to bring your research to life through capacity development and innovation. #AUIA https://t.co/cA4KIPeo6h pic.twitter.com/k9XPb9WQ3O
— Co-Creation Hub (@Cc_HUB) January 15, 2018
The AUIA program is in three phases. Phase one of the program will be a two-day workshop open to senior research staff at Nigerian universities. This workshop will help to project the importance academic research could have to the development of Africa. The workshop will also take aim at intellectual property management, a hot topic considering that plagiarism affects academic integrity.
Phase two serves as a follow-up to the first phase. It will provide research support to participating universities. This phase will help identify trends and knowledge dearth that academic research can explore for industry benefit.
And phase three will support institutional partnership and help to connect academic research with social realities.
The first phase of the program is scheduled to hold on Feb 8 and 9, 2018. Participation is open to senior academics at Nigerian universities, and has a N155,000 registration fee. The venue for the workshop is the Co-Creation Hub Nigeria, Yaba, Lagos State.
Registration for the AUIA program can be done at their website.
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