By Chinedu Okafor
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Faculty of Education, on March 31, 2026, organized a workshop for its academic staff titled “Strengthening Supervision Practice in Postgraduate Studies,” as part of efforts to prepare for the commencement of its postgraduate programmes.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, who was represented by Professor Christopher Ehinomeh, commended the organizers for the timeliness of the workshop. He noted that the programme came at a critical period when the Faculty was about to commence postgraduate studies, expressing confidence that the initiative would significantly enhance the quality of research and supervision in the university.
The Vice-Chancellor remarked that effective supervision remained central to producing quality research outputs, stressing that sound academic guidance would help students develop well-structured thesis that meet required academic standards.
He added that good supervision would improve completion rates, promote ethical research practices, and reduce cases of plagiarism and poor academic conduct.
He further stated that proper supervision would stimulate critical thinking among students, enabling them to defend their research during oral examinations.
According to him, it would also strengthen the relationship between supervisors and students while ensuring timely feedback and sustained academic engagement.
Delivering his lecture, one of the resource persons, Professor Sunday A. Adedini, emphasized that postgraduate supervision should go beyond administrative routines to include mentorship, intellectual engagement, and professional development.
He described supervision as a process that requires guiding students through research design, methodology, and academic writing, rather than dictating every step of their work.
Prof.Adedini highlighted that effective supervision involved constructive feedback, ethical oversight, and helping students build academic networks through conferences and publications. He warned against practices such as micromanagement and treating supervision as mere formality, noting that each student required a tailored approach depending on their research needs.
He also identified major challenges affecting postgraduate supervision, including high supervisor-to-student ratios, poor communication, and burnout among both lecturers and students.
He advocated a shift from a managerial model of supervision to a mentorship-based approach that promotes collaboration, emotional intelligence, and career development.
In his lecture, Professor Haastrup T. Ekundayo stressed the importance of adopting best practices in guiding research to completion, particularly within education disciplines. He noted that clear research objectives, well-formulated research questions, and appropriate research design were essential foundations for successful research outcomes.
Professor Ekundayo further explained that adequate knowledge of research methods, effective time management, and adherence to ethical standards were critical in ensuring the credibility of research.
He added that continuous consultation with supervisors and access to relevant academic literature would greatly enhance the research process.
He also emphasized the need for proper data management, appropriate analytical techniques, and strong academic writing skills, noting that these elements contributed significantly to the quality of research output. He encouraged lecturers to expose students to peer review processes, workshops, and academic conferences as part of their development.
The Acting Dean, Faculty of Education, Associate Professor Sunday Adeniran, described the workshop as timely and impactful.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of participation, noting that the turnout reflected the staff’s commitment to improving postgraduate supervision practices.
He stated that the workshop served as a reminder of the standards expected of academic staff, adding that the Faculty would ensure strict adherence to postgraduate supervision guidelines.
He emphasized that lecturers must carry out their responsibilities ethically and professionally, as they were entrusted with shaping the academic future of students.
The Dean further assured that the Faculty would monitor supervision practices and address complaints where necessary, noting that mechanisms would be put in place to resolve issues between supervisors and students to ensure smooth academic progress.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Faculty Postgraduate Board, Associate Professor Florence Adeniyi, explained that the workshop was organized to properly equip lecturers, especially those with little or no prior experience in postgraduate supervision.
She noted that as the Faculty was just commencing its postgraduate programme, it was important to bring in experienced scholars to guide staff on best practices. According to her, the initiative would help lecturers understand their roles, boundaries, and expectations in supervising postgraduate students.
Adeniyi expressed optimism that the knowledge gained from the workshop would translate into improved supervision practices.
She added that lecturers would be better positioned to guide students effectively and avoid common pitfall in research supervision.
Participants at the workshop engaged in interactive sessions, asking questions and sharing experiences, which further enriched the discussions. Many of the lecturers acknowledged that the workshop had broadened their understanding of postgraduate supervision and research processes.
