Skyline University Nigeria’s Library in collaboration with Skyline University College, UAE has organized an International Webinar with the theme “Research Indicators, Publishing Ethics, Predatory Journals & Academic Research Services in the Higher Education Sector”. The webinar which took place on April 6, 2022 targets Teaching Faculties, Researchers, Librarians, and Students across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
The International Webinar is part of the mandate of Skyline University Nigeria to improve digital library opportunities and awareness on the global platform, increase consumer education around information and resources as well as develop community partnerships. The Webinar was hosted via the Zoom platform and featured facilitators, such as Mr. Raja Visvanathan a Computer Scientist at INFLIBNET Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Govt of India, and Dr. J. Arumugam, Librarian of the PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
The guest speakers at the virtual webinar acknowledged that some of the measurement of the quality of education for any institution is dependent on the quantity and quality of research publication of such institution/individual, the number and value of grants awarded, as well as the number of awards (e.g. Nobel Prizes). Mr. Raja, the first keynote speaker, made his presentation on the title ‘Academic and Research Services in Higher Education, while Dr. J. Arumugam made his presentation on the topic ‘Research Indicators, Publishing Ethics & Predatory Journals’.
Earlier, while giving his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University College, Professor Mohammed Inairat, welcomed participants to the webinar. He stated that the second international library webinar was organized to share knowledge and experiences with colleagues from different parts of the world, cultures, and educational backgrounds in order to enrich knowledge and come out with rich experiences. He added that research is an important pillar of any higher education, without which, higher education institutions can not move forward.
The Vice-Chancellor of SUN, Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V expressed his happiness for the successful conduct of the webinar. He stated that there is a high need for upskilling of faculty so that they can use some of the latest technologies to develop. “We should focus on doing local and collaborative research because real research comes when you do something which impacts the local community” He suggested.
The event had in attendance, over 200 participants cutting across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, including some high-profile dignitaries from both Government and Private sectors as well as Universities.