In order to deepen interdisciplinary research in Afe Babalola University, Ado – Ekiti, (ABUAD), the University earmarked the sum of Four billion, five hundred million Naira (N4,500,000,000.00) only specifically for Interdisciplinary research purposes in the year 2021. The sources of these income earmarked for interdisciplinary research are as follows:
- ABUAD OGEES Institute: Research grant and short- term contracts for interdisciplinary research on oil, gas, environment, and sustainable development in Nigeria, N250 Million
- ABUAD NIREMAS Project: The Nigerian Innovative Research Management Structures Project is a multiyear project in partnership with the University of Cologne Germany and funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).The aim of the project is to promote and support ABUAD to build up structures for interdisciplinary research N150 Million
- Research Grant from Industries and Commerce specifically for Interdisciplinary Research is N1.1 Billion
- Research Income earmarked for interdisciplinary research from ABUAD Total Institutional Income is N3 Billion.
In addition to the sum of N4 Billion earmarked for the interdisciplinary research amongst science disciplines, ABUAD has received N50Million (Federal and Ekiti State Government) in short-term research funding to run a wide range of interdisciplinary research programs on science disciplines. This includes the Excellence for Forest Certification Training Programme: Forest Certification for Responsible Forest Management which aims to promote responsible and multistakeholder management of forests in Ekiti State. In summary, ABUAD has allocated the sum of N4.05 Billion for engaging in Interdisciplinary research amongst sciences disciplines in the year 2021.
In order to achieve the full implementation and entrenchment of interdisciplinary Research in the university, job adverts have been periodically placed to ensure more research talent acquisition that are required to upscale the robust Interdisciplinary Research framework envisioned by ABUAD. In the year 2021 seventy-five job adverts have This year, ABUAD has posted 75 job adverts that explicitly mention or are relevant to interdisciplinary research both in the main campus of the University and also its affiliates Institutes like Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development . While 64 out of the 75 adverts are very relevant to interdisciplinary research amongst sciences disciplines. Some of the adverts on related interdisciplinary research are as follows:
See https://www.ogeesinstitute.edu.ng/careeropportunities
ABUAD has an Interdisciplinary Research Policy that encourages and measures the success of interdisciplinary collaborations on research projects involving Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Engineering, and Computer Science. Click here to see the ABUAD Interdisciplinary Research Policy ABUAD has created clusters in the University that have researchers and faculty members from various disciplines to work together on how to deepen Interdisciplinary Research knowledge base.
In like manner, ABUAD has provided a key performance indicator that will be used to measure the success of interdisciplinary collaborations on research projects and also to advance the career of the researchers. The metrics are contained in the University Academic Staff Assessment and promotion Policy document. The metrics cut across the use of Scopus indexed journals, Google scholar and other local and institutional journals to measure the degree of interdisciplinarity in the scholarly research outputs. Click here to see the ABUAD Academic Staff Assessment and Promotion Policy Document.
ABUAD’s promotion policy is specifically designed to reward interdisciplinary research. In addition to the normal promotion track, the policy has a Special and Accelerated Promotion Track specifically dedicated to recognize faculty members who have excelled in interdisciplinary research that has resulted in major publications, awards and recognition.
The Founder/Chancellor who also believes in rewarding research productivity in the University by Instituting a reward system to appreciate Interdisciplinary research by giving monetary reward and certificates of commendation to top researchers in delivering interdisciplinary research scholarly outputs. Click below to see the Interdisciplinary Research Measurement Award 2020 and the Interdisciplinary Research Measurement Award 2021 editions.
The University also pays for the publication of journal articles produced by the researchers that are interdisciplinary in nature. The University Research Policy Document is also robust enough to encapsulate the all forms of research and development wherein Interdisciplinary Research is very key.
Click here to see ABUAD Research Policy.
Click here to see ABUAD Scopus: Affiliation Details by Collaboration Institutions
Click here to see ABUAD Scopus: Affiliation Detail by Disciplines
Click here to see ABUAD Scival: Collaboration Impact
Click here to see ABUAD Scival: Media Impact
Click here to see a significant research output and invention by abuad in 2021
Interdisciplinary Research requires adequate research facilities and infrastructure that will meet the needs of the research teams in each cluster. The University has invested hugely at providing research facilities and infrastructure required to create enabling environment for Interdisciplinary Research to thrive in the University. Some of these facilities and infrastructure include:
1. The S. E. BOGORO RESEARCH CENTRE is world-class Interdisciplinary Research Centre, established in honour of Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, FAS,. The 150,000-square-foot facility is tailored to allow students and faculty members from a variety of disciplines to share workspaces and laboratories. Researchers can submit requests to use workspaces on a short- or long-term basis, including wet and dry labs, shared workbenches, interview rooms and meeting rooms. The Bogoro Building currently houses five interdisciplinary research Institutes that are established to serve as catalyst for transformative change in Nigeria and Africa while having global impact, namely: The Institute for Drug Research and Development; Institute for One Health; Institute for Agricultural Value Chain Development; Institute for Fourth Industrial Revolution; and Institute for Policy Research &Knowledge Economy. These Institutes comprise scientists, engineers and biomedical researchers from various departments that focus on advancing knowledge and nurturing interdisciplinary and technically grounded leaders and innovators to serve societal needs.
2. The ABUAD Industrial Research Park: the first University-affiliated business park in Nigeria and Africa. The 121-unit park provides a hub for interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial research in manufacturing, emerging technologies, logistics and food processing amongst others to manufacture, process and commercialize their products in one industrial location. There is also a Central Laboratory at the Industrial Park to ensure all products meet highest standard and quality.
3. All the Colleges in the University have research facilities in their specific colleges geared towards enhancing and strengthening interdisciplinary research clusters. All these Colleges have cutting edge facilities required to ensure various interdisciplinary research projects are carried out.
4. The University ICT Budling provides the Interdisciplinary research clusters the platform to undertake data analyses, simulation, virtual realties, and requisite research e- resources (eBooks and eJournals) needs required for engaging in productive interdisciplinary research.
5. The ABUAD Multisystem Hospital (AMSH: amsh.abuad.edu.ng) provide the platform by which research data can be generated and captured for science related interdisciplinary research. The Hospital has a robust hospital information management system and electronic medical records platform that are enabled to capture patients’ data.
6. ABUAD Agro-Tourist Farm: The university has established a very big farm for research, agribusiness and Agricultural extension purposes. This has impacted positively on the quality of research output of the University. The farm also has a section called herbarium for research into alternative medicine. Click here to see the ABUAD Agro-Tourist Farm Handbook
7. Animal House: The animal house is equipped with different types of animals for research purposes. The University has invested heavily on the provision of building, personnel and different types of animals for interdisciplinary research purposes.
The Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships) oversees the development and implementation of Interdisciplinary Research Programs by all Colleges, Directorates and Units at ABUAD. The Office appointed an Interdisciplinary Research and Development Officer who provides administrative support for interdisciplinary research projects at ABUAD. https://research.abuad.edu.ng/mission-statement/. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (ARISP) is the Chairman of the University Research and Innovation Committee that performs oversight functions on the University Directorate of Research.
ABUAD also as a Research Directorate which provides regular training, tools and resources for the conceptualization, development and implementation of interdisciplinary research projects in science disciplines involving Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Engineering, and Computer Science. The Directorate is home to 10 full time staff that support interdisciplinary research projects across the University. The directorate has better collaboration with other Directorates and Units of the University that will make the research and by extension interdisciplinary research to be more productive. The administrative structure of the Research Directorate helps to manage the grantsmanship of the University efficiently and effectively. Below is the Organogram of the Research Directorate.
In like manner, ABUAD has provided a key performance indicator that will be used to measure the success of interdisciplinary collaborations on research projects and also to advance the career of the researchers. The metrics are contained in the University Academic Staff Assessment and promotion Policy document. The metrics cut across the use of Scopus indexed journals, Google scholar and other local and institutional journals to measure the degree of interdisciplinarity in the scholarly research outputs. Click here to see the ABUAD Academic Staff Assessment and Promotion Policy Document.
ABUAD’s promotion policy is specifically designed to reward interdisciplinary research. In addition to the normal promotion track, the policy has a Special and Accelerated Promotion Track specifically dedicated to recognize faculty members who have excelled in interdisciplinary research that has resulted in major publications, awards and recognition.
The Founder/Chancellor who also believes in rewarding research productivity in the University by Instituting a reward system to appreciate Interdisciplinary research by giving monetary reward and certificates of commendation to top researchers in delivering interdisciplinary research scholarly outputs. Click below to see the Interdisciplinary Research Measurement Award 2020 and the Interdisciplinary Research Measurement Award 2021 editions.
