Personal experiences of mentoring for academic excellence

• In Event: Promoting excellence in educational research and disseminating its outputs: The case of the Education Research in Africa Award (ERAA)

Abstract

Using the narratology method of telling it the way it is and focusing on the lessons learnt for enriching the process, the paper recounts practical experiences of mentoring academics for enhanced performance in their triple goal of becoming (a) consummate researchers, (b) creative teachers, and (c) committed societal change agents. This is to enable them to fit neatly into the triple mission of higher education--knowledge generation (Research), knowledge transmission (Teaching), and knowledge sharing (responsive social engagement). The narration draws from work on curriculum development and pedagogy in two Nigerian universities, a series of demonstration teaching illustrating the process of ‘de-lecturizing the lecture’ at the graduate level, and interactive sessions on graduate level pedagogy at the University of Ibadan-Nigeria. Work at the pan-African level on hands-on/minds-on exercises on strategic planning in universities is also narrated. The interesting ripple effects of the experiences show clear indications that mentoring can be a viable approach to personal and institutional capacity building for academic excellence, which in itself is an indication of the extent to which academic work is able to move from the ‘Ivory Tower’ to influence positive change and development in the ‘Social Laboratory’ (i.e. the world out there).

Author

• Pai Obanya, Institute of Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria