THE FOUR {4} Fs MODEL IN BUILDING A WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITY
by Professor Prince Famous. Izedonmi, PhD, FCA

Introduction

Those who look ahead tend to work and walk ahead of others and eventually become leaders. It is very encouraging to note that our University, the great Covenant University is already beginning to look ahead to explore the subject of building a World Class University. It is also gratifying to know that the Management is equally seeking for honest contributions and inputs in order to make the above quest a reality in Covenant University.

Strategic planning is compared to foundation of a building. Indeed, foundation is the most essential part of a beautiful edifice. This is the same with strategic planning that seeks to provide solutions to
the following questions:

i} Where are we now? Where should we be?
ii} Where are we going?
iii} When do we get there?
iv} How do we get there?
v} What do we require to get there?
vi} Where should we be in five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty five and thirty years time.
vi} Review of strategic plans.
vii} Drawing of sound Strategic plan and periodic review of same.
viii} Similarly, Curriculum development and programmes should address local, national and international issues and be responsive. Anthens, USSR, USA experiences are examples

I think this is the kernel of the subject matter to wit: the Idea of a University. I commend the Management for this thoughtful idea.

Below, you will find three {3} diagrams which represent my honest contribution towards the subject of discussion. The diagrams speak for themselves. Building a first class University is premised on the following:

THE FOUR {4} Fs MODEL IN BUILDING A WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITY
Factors for building a World class University include

i} Man/Leadership.
ii} Information.
iii} Money.
v} Machines.
v} Material
vi} Change
vii} Time

However, for the purpose of this paper, I have reduced them to the four {4} Fs model.

i} FACULTY
Very often people tend to ask the following questions:

a} Who are the faculty in that Department, or that University?
There are strategic reasons for such question.
A first class University is built on faculty.
By this I mean the academics in terms of quality, quantity and international recognition .
In this respect, unless a concerted effort is made at building a virile and vibrant faculty, such University will be reduced to a mere advanced Secondary School.
A faculty attracts faculty of its kind.

Loop one of the diagram indicates those factors to watch out for in building, attracting and
retaining vibrant faculty members.

ii} FRESHMEN AND FRESHWOMEN

This addresses the quality and quantity of the University intake. The work of the faculty members become burdensome if the quality of student intake is highly questionable. Similarly, there is always a trade-off between quality and quantity. A first class University emphasizes more on quality as well as national and international spread of students intake. Other factors are also outlined in loop two in the diagram.

iii} FACILITIES

A first class University also pays a great deal of attention to both soft and physical facilities as revealed in loop three. These facilities must be kept up to date and must expand in tandem with the growth of the University. University growth and expansion must be properly planned and sequenced

iv} FUNDING

All ivy-league Universities do not depend solely on fees or government subventions or their proprietors’ for funding. At the beginning, they may, however, such University must engage in strategic financial planning and management with specific targets for IGR for each College/Department/Units. There must be a deliberate plan to avoid the pitfalls of public Universities experience in this respect. Each College / Department/ Institute/ Unit must be made to be responsible to generate some funds through consultancy services. Long Range planning must be encouraged in this respect.


Other things to look out for include:
i} Active Individual and Collaborative Research activities and joint authorship within the University and across the globe.
ii} Research/Vibrant Consultancy. This must also be encouraged in the University. Flexibility in University Calendar is needed.
iii} Creation of Centre of Excellence and a gradual building up of same at Departmental/College level.
iv} Community Impact. Glocally and Globally must be actively pursued. Good publicity is also needed.
v} Well structured Calendar, Orderliness and pattern schedule of activities e.g. 3 – 5 years are hallmarks.Nothing is done haphazardly. Ad hoc is only 1%. All activities within this period are properly planned, documented and circulated.
vi} World Class University rests on the Intangibles.

These include:
Encouraging freedom of expression.
Openness, reception and accommodation of ideas {new and contrary}.
As you are aware, University is a birth place of idea and laboratory for testing ideas which may even lead to research breakthroughs. Where free expressions are suppressed, mental blockade occurs, University welcomes Macaiah’s principle. This makes room for testing and re-testing of ideas. Scholars from other Universities tend to go where trust, openness, reception and accommodation of new and contrary ideas are truly and honestly welcome and embraced.
vii} Active promotion of the mathematics of success of development. Let us place numeric value to each alphabet and see the results.
iv) TRUST


CONCLUSION
Covenant University, Ota has started on a right path. It has the tangibles no doubt. Indeed only a very few Universities in the world have the physical facilities we have now. The University also has a clear-cut seven core values, good anthem and sound philosophical motto. Be that as it may, emphasis should be placed on the human side and the intangibles. The four {4} Fs Model should be warmly embraced in our match towards becoming a first class World University.

Thank you and God bless.