The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, is leading a delegation of Vice-Chancellors from Nigerian universities to Singapore for a five-day international conference focused on strengthening collaboration between universities, industry, government and civil society.
The AraRocks Quadruple Helix Knowledge Exchange Conference, holding from June 29 to July 3 at the Novotel Singapore, is bringing together higher education leaders, policymakers, industry experts and development partners to explore how universities can better drive innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development.
The conference is organised by Ara-Rocks Ltd in collaboration with the NUC, with support from Vanguard Guild USA, Hatch Ideas UK, universities, foundations and other partner institutions.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony, Professor Ribadu spoke on Nigeria’s transition from the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) to the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), describing the reform as a deliberate effort to equip graduates with the skills required for a rapidly changing global economy.
Speaking on the theme, “Transition from BMAS to CCMAS: The Critical Role of Quadruple Helix Synergy Between Academia, Industry, Government and Civil Society in Achieving the Full Essence of the CCMAS Curriculum,” the NUC Executive Secretary said the success of the new curriculum depends on stronger partnerships between universities and other sectors of society.
According to him, the CCMAS framework is designed not only to improve teaching and learning but also to promote research, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable national development through closer engagement with industry, government and civil society.
As part of the conference activities, the Nigerian delegation visited the School of Engineering at Nanyang Polytechnic, where they examined practical models of collaboration between universities and industry aimed at driving innovation and solving real-world challenges.
The delegation is also scheduled to visit the National University of Singapore and participate in engagement sessions with global industry leaders and higher education experts as the conference continues.
The conference is expected to provide Nigerian universities with opportunities to build international partnerships, exchange best practices and explore new approaches to improving the relevance and competitiveness of higher education.
