The University Management has restored the Graduate Assistant Cadre as a training grade, in line with the recommendation of the Presidential Visitation Panel in sub section 5.2.6, page 36 of its White Paper.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Toyin Arowolo disclosed this in an exclusive interview with FUNAAB Bulletin.
Making reference to sub section 5.2.4 of the Presidential Visitation Panel Report, Professor Arowolo stated that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FUNAAB branch in its submission to the Panel protested that Graduate Assistantship and Assistant Lecturer Cadres that have been established as University positions have been abolished and replaced with Junior Research Fellow positions as the only training grade.
He stressed that having painstakingly considered ASUU submission, “the Panel recommended that FUNAAB should restore Graduate Assistantship position as a training ground, on condition that Graduate Assistant with 2nd Class Upper and First Class who are so appointed should obtain Masters Degree and Ph.D within a specified period”.
Professor Arowolo added, “what the University new Management has done is to implement the directive of the Visitor to the University that we should restore Graduate Assistant position while we have abolished Junior Research Fellows because we can’t operate the two together”.
The DVC, Academic however, pointed out that “All first Class Graduates are entitled to apply as Graduate Assistants. The University is not saying it won’t recruit them but they have to apply. Instead of applying as Junior Research Fellows, they will apply as Graduate Assistants as recommended by the Visitor to the University”.