Role of African youths in ensuring good governance
One of Africa’s greatest resources is its burgeoning youth population. According to United Nations Development Programme, Africa’s youth population is projected to reach over 830 million by 2050, making Africa the youngest continent.
However, Africa is not tapping into the potential of its youth population. On the contrary, Africa has exploited, neglected and ignored its youths, especially in the political space. The African Charter recognises youths as individuals between the ages of 15 and 35. Yet, older men in their 80s, who should have retired, occupy the corridors of power and refuse to create space for youth participation and involvement; this leaves Africa with institutions that cannot take any meaningful actions to address contemporary issues most relevant to young people and the changing world.
Not only are the leadership propensity of the youths undermined by the older generation, but their opinions are not sought for or even considered important; however, the same youths are deployed to play thugs, disrupt elections and incite violence by the ‘powers that be’ for their selfish political aspirations.
In contemporary society, youth is the epicentre of all developmental strides because they make up a significant portion of society. Youths play an important role in fostering sustainable development and advancement, and they have the advantage of strength, technology and dynamism to drive national peace, progress and prosperity. When a society refuses to maximise its youth population, such a society will not progress and ultimately fail.
The many woes plaguing the African continent are a direct reflection of what happens when a society decides to neglect its youths.
When youths and their interests are not represented adequately in formal political institutions and processes such as parliaments, political parties, elections, and public administrations, most lose interest in nation-building and development. Some migrate to fairer climes where they can thrive. A good proportion engages in a ‘make it or die trying’ hustle that most times lead to committing social vices. A handful suffering economic importunity become potential recruits for terrorist groups, banditry, robbery, kidnapping etc. Consequently, turning the greatest resource of the African continent into a curse.
However, turning to violence or escaping to greener pastures will not resolve the political instability and bad governance that has stagnated the development of Africa.
Africa is our home and will always be.
It is, therefore, expedient that the youths of Africa rise from being victims and take strategic measures to ensure stability and good governance.
What role can African youths play in ensuring governance and leadership?
Before we delve right into the role of African youths in achieving good governance, let us first understand the meaning of good governance.
According to the United Nations (UN), good governance is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and follows the rule of law.
Youths are indispensable in achieving the highlighted elements of good governance above in their respective countries, which is fundamental to attaining social, political and economic development.
The role of African youths includes:
Be informed:
Information is key. African youths should know their fundamental human rights and familiarise themselves with the constitution. They should seek information about their government and educate themselves on the processes of government.
Develop sustainable policies:
A good leader and a bad one are tied to policies. A good leader commits to developing and implementing policies that will ensure good governance and foster sustainable development, while a bad leader shortchanges existing good policies for selfish purposes.
African youths should commit to developing policies in their different sectors and interests that their leaders can leverage to foster good governance. They should also put in place a system to track the adoption and implementation of such policies.
Participation in politics:
African youths cannot be clamouring for good governance without actively participating in political and electoral activities that will decide their leaders. As such, African youths should be intentional about joining political parties, rising through the ranks from ordinary party members to party delegates. They should register for and obtain their voter’s cards or any document that will enable their active participation in election.
Eligible youths interested in politics should invest time in setting up grassroots systems that will ensure that good governance is achieved in their time.
Youth Organization:
It has become paramount that African youths form a national youth organisation in their respective countries. This organisation will carry out grassroots political awareness campaigns to educate the less enlightened, collaborate between the different arms of government to meet the needs of youths, set up processes to ensure good governance, and screen and support youths contesting for political offices.
Grassroots civic education and awareness:
Young people should be on the front line sensitising and educating their peers on the principles of good governance. With the help of the state and non-state actors, they should conduct civic education and organise awareness campaigns to enlighten the masses at the grassroots level. Active youth participation in governance requires civic education to instil ethical values that can help uninformed masses, especially youths. to distinguish right from wrong.
Become role models:
Leadership is a life-long journey that starts from the home, extends to social institutions like schools and religious gatherings, and continues in the corporate world before climaxing to political offices.
African youths should become good leaders and exemplify the elements of good governance in whatever capacity they are called to serve. This way, they prepare themselves to be great leaders in their country when the opportunity presents itself.
How to be security conscious
Sometime in March 2022, an Abuja-Bound passenger train was attacked by terrorists. Eight people died, 61 were abducted, and many others were injured.
It is a sorry tale.
In 2021, the global peace index compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace ranked Nigeria 146th out of 163 countries and 39th out of 44 countries in the sub-Saharan region.
However, Nigeria is not the only country battling insecurity. The truth is, insecurity is a global menace, which has found Africa to be a suitable breeding ground given the continent’s economic challenges.
Insecurity has become a major menace in stagnating the development of Africa.
In these desperate times, it is wise to take security measures to ensure the safety of yourself and your family.
Tips to be security conscious
1. Avoid being predictable
Most criminals study their potential victims to learn their habits to find the best opportunity to carry out their activities. If you are a creature of habit, try infusing some randomness to avoid being predictable.
2. Learn to keep some secrets
Be very careful who you share your personal information with. Don’t share your personal information with strangers; it can open you up to danger. Talk less, listen more and only share confidential information with people you trust.
3. Avoid keeping late hours
As much as possible, try not to keep late hours. Make a habit of reaching your destination when you can still make out people’s faces. If you decide to go out or stay up late, ensure you are with a company. Never walk alone in strange or lonely neighbourhoods; it attracts unnecessary attention. Be aware of your surroundings and learn how to identify potential problems.
4. Pepper Spray
On the subject of being armed, a pepper spray is a good option. Applied properly, it would give you enough time to disable your attacker and make a run for your life. When using the pepper spray, aim for the eye of your attacker, and while he is down, consider kicking him in the balls for added effect. Once your attacker is disabled, call for help or run from the scene as fast as possible.
5. Be informed and alert
Staying informed of the security situation in your immediate environment is paramount.
Watch the news.
Get to learn about what is happening both locally and globally.
Hone your observation skills to notice suspicious activity wherever you find yourself; this can save you from potential dangers.
6. Watch your use of social media
Many people love to update their social media platforms with current happenings in their lives. This makes it easy for a potential stalker, attacker or kidnapper to track them.
It is wise to be discreet about the amount of information you put online about yourself and your family, as this information can easily be collected.
7. Trust your gut
There is something called gut feeling, a foreboding of something bad happening. Don’t take it for granted. If you have a gut feeling about something or feel that something is out of place, do something about it. This has saved the lives of a lot of people more often than not. Don’t ignore your gut; there’s a reason you have a feeling.
8. If cornered, relinquish valuables
Try as much as possible to comply in a situation where you have been cornered, captured or kidnapped. Relinquish valuables if demanded and try to be level-headed; it will help you evaluate your situation and possibly find a way of escape.
9. Emergency numbers
Always have a security emergency number on the speed dial on your phone. Request for the contact of police stations or security outfits in your vicinity. You never know when it will come in handy for you.
In these desperate times of burgeoning criminal activities and insecurity, it behoves you to take protective measures to ensure to fall victim.
Stay safe.
How Terrorism Stagnates Africa
Terrorism in Africa
The UN General Assembly in January 2006 (Resolution 60/43) defined terrorist acts as “criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes.”
Terrorism is a global problem. However, it tends to affect Africa the most, partly because of the continent’s insufficient military support and persistent economic hardship, which has attracted many young people to extremist groups.
Though terrorism is still a relatively recent phenomenon in Africa, the speed at which it spreads across the continent is alarming. There is no denying that things are rapidly spiralling out of control, from Boko Haram in West Africa to Al-Shabaab in East Africa to Islamic State in North Africa.
The African continent has suffered greatly from these tragedies; some analysts worry that things could worsen if immediate action is not taken.
Africa has seen increased terrorism attacks due to a lack of social cohesion, poor institutions, corruption, bad governance, and poorly functioning economies that lead to poverty and increased unemployment.
Effects of Terrorism in Africa
Displacement
Terrorism is the major reason behind the increasing numbers of people being forcibly displaced from their homes and countries in Africa, particularly the eastern, northern and western regions.
In Nigeria, the notorious terrorist group Boko Haram is constantly creating terror in the country’s northeastern region, sacking villagers from their homes and plunging them into unending misery and uncertainty. The insurgency has displaced over 2 million people who have crossed international borders to neighbouring countries or relocated to other safe places within their countries of origin.
Economic crises
Terrorism is an enemy of advancement, economic growth and development, and it cripples the economy and makes Africa unattractive to potential investors.
In the east of Africa, al-Shabaab is wreaking havoc in Somalia, destabilising public institutions and damaging modern infrastructures, thereby crippling the country’s economy. Armed conflict between al-Shabaab and the Somali army – including associated human rights violations – has resulted in massive civilian displacements within and outside Somalia.
Attacks Africa’s greatest resources
Africa is blessed with many resources, but the greatest of Africa’s resources are the youths.
Terrorist groups target young people, especially impoverished communities, to recruit into their cause because they are full of energy, zest and passion; this is a direct attack on Africa’s future, engineering these youths’ great potential for massive destruction.
The brain drain of professionals
Peace and security are the bedrock of a thriving economy. Nobody wants to be in a place where they don’t feel secure and safe.
The growing trend of terrorist attacks has resulted in the increased migration of professionals to safer climes where they can thrive.
Reduction of human per capita
Terrorism has resulted in the death of Africa’s workforce, further crippling the GDP of African countries.
In 2015, there were 381 terrorist attacks targeting civilians with 1394 fatalities, while in 2020, there were 7,108 attacks with 12,519 fatalities in Africa.
Way forward
You can’t talk about terrorism without mentioning the institutional problems of Africa.
As such, solutions to terrorism in Africa should be approached from an institutional perspective.
Part of the root cause of terrorism in Africa stems from religio-cultural institutions.
For example, Boko Haram opposes the Westernization of Nigeria, which it blames for “Nigeria’s culture of corruption”, and demands establishing an Islamic state.
That is a very tight rope to walk.
However, it is important to borrow a leaf from the book of Arab states of the Persian Gulf like UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia etc.; these states have had huge success in keeping terrorist attacks at bay while the rest of the world is on fire.
Take, for instance, UAE, a country where Islamism is the predominant religion in UAE, there is still relative freedom of religion, and terrorist attacks have had minimal success.
What policies do they have in place?
What systems are working for them?
How can they maintain relative internal peace and ward off terrorist attacks?
If sustainable peace is the goal, then it is high time we adopt the holistic approach of the UAE.
Let’s consider these holistic approaches:
Promoting Inclusion and Compassion
The UAE is at the forefront of initiatives to spread Islam’s values of inclusivity and compassion while combating the causes of extremism from the ground up and eradicating the ideologies that breed radicalisation.
Top UAE officials and religious figures continue to denounce violent extremist ideology publicly and draw attention to its dangers.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments collaborates closely with UAE religious leaders to stop violent extremist preaching at UAE religious institutions. It keeps an eye out for potential infractions.
Hedayah, the Global Center for Excellence in Countering Violent Extremism, is based in the UAE. It is a “think and do” organisation that offers communities and governments worldwide resources to advance tolerance and understanding and strengthen their ability to combat extremism and terrorist organisations’ recruitment efforts.
Secular and religious leaders from around the world convene at the UAE-based Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies to advance Islamic peace and discover solutions to Muslim problems.
The Abrahamic Family House, a brand-new interfaith facility built in Abu Dhabi, is dedicated to fostering understanding between people of all faiths and worldviews. The facility will include a church, mosque, and synagogue.
Countering Extremist Propaganda and the Exploitation of Web and Social Media
The UAE has long recognised the threat posed by extremist ideology. It has adopted several strategies to stop radicalisation by regulating religious discourse within official institutions, on public forums of religion, and in the media. The religious education curriculum has also been deliberately and thoroughly developed. It includes conventional curricula in Qur’an Memorization Centers run by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and Islamic education classes in the formal school system.
The UAE and the US established the Sawab Centre in March 2015 as part of their ongoing efforts to combat extremism, particularly on social media. The Sawab Centre houses a joint digital communications hub that uses social media platforms to amplify credible voices speaking out against ISIS, refute false claims made by extremists, support the work of the Global Coalition, and identify and correct religious misunderstandings.
Countering terrorism funding:
The UAE has made significant efforts to develop anti-money laundering systems through legislation in the battle against terrorist financing. The UAE also collaborates with other Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) and international organisations, such as the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), which supports financial information collection and analysis programs, to monitor and dismantle terrorist financing networks.
Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security:
The government’s security apparatus kept an eye on alleged terrorists in the UAE and prevented prospective terrorist strikes within its borders. To combat terrorist financing, the UAE’s customs, police, and other security services strengthened border security.
Overall, the UAE’s security apparatus proved capable in investigations, crisis management, and border security. Its personnel were trained and provided with the necessary tools to identify, prevent, and deal with terrorist situations.
The UAE and US share law enforcement intelligence to combat international criminal groups and terrorist organisations. UAE ports of entry employed an internal name-based watchlist system to identify those who were forbidden from entering the nation or were wanted by UAE, which was populated by local immigration, deportation, prisons, and security agencies. INTERPOL and GCC watchlists were incorporated into the UAE’s internal watchlist.
The UAE Ministry of Interior implemented a face recognition system employing cutting-edge technology to monitor the country’s borders, vital infrastructure, and valuable assets. The biometric software scans images of individual faces for analysis and identification, and it employs delicate cameras to capture people’s faces. People standing close to, far from, moving, or still can be scanned and captured on camera, whether in motion or standing still.
The Gulf Cooperation Council nations and the UAE actively collaborate to strengthen border security, interoperability, and regional stability. The GCC-POL was established as part of efforts to work together to combat terrorism.
Sources
United Arab Emirates – United States Department of State
Combating Terrorism and Extremism (mofaic.gov.ae)
Counterterrorism | UAE Embassy in Washington, DC (UAE-embassy.org)
Maintaining safety and security – The Official Portal of the UAE Government
21st Century Tools for Classroom Learning
21st-century students need to be prepared for an entirely different kind of workplace filled with open spaces focused on employee collaboration. Not to mention the tech skills most employees are now expected to have.
Therefore, educators and schools should adopt new learning tools that will not only improve students’ learning experience but also prepare them for the future workplace.
Here are 21st Century Tools Educators Should Adopt for Effective Learning
Cloud-Based Word Processors
With cloud-based word processors, students can collaborate on writing pieces from anywhere, save comments, and curate all steps of the writing process in digital portfolios without the need for flash drives and disks.
Examples of cloud-based word processors include Google Drive, Zoho Documents, Microsoft Word online — and their sister presentation software, spreadsheets, and concept mapping tools— indispensable for 21st-century teachers.
Interactive whiteboards
Whiteboards can be manipulated for use either in the teaching of online courses or as a blended learning medium when online content is balanced with brick and mortar class time. Whiteboards are a great option for encouraging an interactive learning experience.
An interactive whiteboard can be used like a traditional chalkboard. Still, it can also be connected to a computer which allows all class members to see lesson plans, multimedia and more directly from the computer desktop.
Personal computers with WiFi
Computers were one of the first technologies to transform the education process. The introduction of wireless Internet has made computers accessible to all students directly in classrooms. In addition, many students have laptop computers that they can use in school.
Handheld devices
One of the other benefits of wireless Internet is the ability to use computer tablets and e-readers in classrooms. Students can start a project in the classroom and then take the device home to finish it. E-books are eco-friendly and can save schools a substantial amount of money in textbook costs.
Electrical outlets
With all this technology, 21st-century classrooms must have plenty of electrical outlets. All these devices need to be charged, and many will likely need to be charged simultaneously, so it’s important to use power strips throughout the classroom.
Tiered Activity and Learning Software
Learning programs used to be especially challenging for teachers. Classrooms are filled with students that have different proficiency levels and interests. In most cases, a single program would leave advanced students bored, slow students overwhelmed and very few satisfied.
But with learning software like Whooo’s Reading, educational activities can be tailored to student levels without the teacher having to create several different curriculums.
Often, these programs also engage students with points, rewards, and incentives that encourage them to dig deeper into their learning. Results from these programs have students performing at higher levels than their peers in more traditional programs.
E-Reader Apps
E-reader apps on student devices offer them a better way to interact with books. This tech-based reading tool allows teachers to present reading in a variety of ways, including with audio and video and makes specific books more available to students.
Rather than continually adding books to your classroom library, students can access them with their e-readers; this allows you to spend less and update your physical library just a few times a year.
Learning Management Systems
Learning Management Systems (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation, and delivery of educational courses, training programs, or learning and development programs. The learning management system concept emerged directly from e-Learning.
have been used for some time in higher education but are making their way into K-12 classrooms.
Some examples of LMS include Google Classroom, Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Canvas, Moodle, and Pearson Learning Solutions.
Some of the features of these programs include assignment submission, online chat and resource sharing.
Adaptive Learning Software
Adaptive learning software is software that adapts to how a student learns. It’s driven by technology that understands how students progress and delivers resources and learning opportunities based on that.
Adaptive learning software gives educators more time to build creative lesson plans and engage with students, especially those who need help most help. Examples of Adaptive learning software include Scootpad, Splashmath, and Gummi.
Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCS)
MOOCs are most often associated with higher education and even hybrid programs; however, they are becoming options for high school and even upper elementary students who want to learn more.
Students can use these programs to complete dual enrollment credits, getting a start on their college education while still in high school. Thanks to rapidly advancing technology, MOOCs are steadily improving and gaining traction with students who need more advanced learning or to complete courses at their own pace.
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2022 Fully-Funded Masters and Doctorate Scholarships in the UK
The UK has undoubtedly one of the best study nations of the world, and also has a favorable environment to suit the taste and desire of students who desire to study in any of their universities, to be academically successful.
In fact, the UK is one of the best study destinations for international students who wish to study abroad and also for domestic citizens seeking a Master’s degree scholarship in the UK.
International and UK students looking for Masters and Doctorate Scholarships to study in the UK for free can apply for any of these best Masters Scholarships in the UK 2022 for International Students.
For Masters Scholarships:
Chevening Scholarship
These scholarships are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders to pursue a one-year taught master’s degree program at any UK university. The scholarship covers University tuition fees, a monthly stipend, Travel costs from the UK, an arrival allowance, a homeward departure allowance, the cost of one visa application, and a travel grant to attend Chevening events in the UK.
Fully Funded University of Manchester Scholarships
The University of Manchester offers scholarships to certain African nationals and also covers tuition fees, returns international airfares, and living expenses.
The program is available for those pursuing a Master’s Degree in Engineering, Environment, Health Sciences, Education, Development, Textiles, and law.
The scholarship covers tuition fees, return international airfares, and living expenses.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Gates Cambridge Scholarships are among the most prestigious international scholarships in the world. These Scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK. The Scholarships are available to all students pursuing a Master’s degree.
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge, including Tuition fees, Maintenance allowance, Travel costs, etc. It also provides additional discretionary funding such as academic development funding, family allowance, fieldwork, etc.
Eira Davies Postgraduate Scholarships for Women in Developing Countries
The Scholarship is specifically a tuition scholarship awarded to female students who are nationals of developing countries, usually reside in a developing country and are registered to attend a postgraduate taught Master’s degree in the College of Humanities and Health Sciences at Swansea Universities.
University of Reading Postgraduate Scholarships
The University of Reading offers several scholarships to International Students. The Scholarship is specifically designed for international students pursuing a Master’s degree program awarded for the study of subjects offered by the University.
The University offers a Scholarship of 3,000 Euro each to top international Students and 3 Scholarships of 2000 Euro each to top British/European students.
Marshal Papworth Scholarship for Developing Countries
The Marshal Papworth Scholarship is open to students from developing countries, specifically designed to help them grow out of hunger for a more sustainable future with their fellow citizens.
The Scholarship covers a total of 23,350 Euro, of which 13,350 Euro is for tuition fees and 10,000 Euro for living expenses.
Duke of Grafton Scholarship
The scholarship is open to all applicants who are international students from developing countries and who hold an offer for a full-time Master’s program. The scholarship will cover the full tuition fee prize, accommodation, living expenses, and flights to and from London.
India Outstanding Achievement Scholarship at the University of Birmingham UK
The University of Birmingham offers the India Outstanding Achievement Scholarship to all students pursuing a degree in Art and Law, Engineering and Physics, Life and Environmental Sciences, and Social Sciences. The scholarship is worth 2,500 euros annually.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries are offered to citizens of developing Commonwealth countries. These scholarships are specifically funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
The Scholarship covers the Airfare to and from the United Kingdom, Tuition and Examination fees, Stipend, Thesis Grant (if applicable), and an initial arrival allowance, among others.
Clarendon Fund Scholarships at the University of Oxford
The Clarendon Fund is one of the major graduate scholarship schemes at the University of Oxford, offering around 140 new scholarships yearly. Clarendon Scholarships are also awarded based on academic excellence and potential across all degree-bearing subjects at the graduate level at the University of Oxford.
The Scholarships are specifically available to all students pursuing a Master’s degree. It covers the Tuition and College fees in full. Scholars on a full-time course receive a generous annual grant for living costs – which will be basically at least £14,777 for 2020. Scholars on a part-time course receive a study support grant to help cover their non-fee costs.
GREAT Scholarships
The GREAT scholarship offers scholarships from UK universities across various subject areas and can be applied by students from 18 countries. Applicants from Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
The scholarship covers the tuition fees for a one-year taught postgraduate course, worth a minimum of £10,000.
The GREAT scholarships are jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign and participating UK higher education institutions.
University College London
University College London (UCL) is one of the world’s top universities.
Aside from its teaching excellence and experiential learning opportunities, UCL offers generous scholarships for students who do not have the financial means to pursue an education at the coveted institution. UCL’s scholarships include the UCL Global Masters Scholarship, which caters to international applicants from lower-income backgrounds.
For Doctorate Programs
Leeds University Business School: International Business Department Scholarship
The International Business Department of the Leeds University Business School offers up to two PhD scholarships for international applicants.
The award is for three years; the last two years are renewable, subject to academic performance. The successful recipient will get a maintenance grant worth 15,609 pounds.
University of Cambridge: Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme
Awarded to a select group of 25 brilliant University of Cambridge PhD students of all disciplines and nationalities, this programme aims to produce graduates who can make a tangible difference to the academic community with their excellent research.
The PhD scholarship winners will receive a generous package including the University Composition Fee and a 6,000 pounds personal allowance throughout their studies, an annual stipend of 18,000 pounds and student visa costs.
SOAS University of London CHASE
SOAS University of London is among the world’s top 50 for Arts and Humanities (QS rankings 2021) and is a top 20 UK institution for these same subjects (THE rankings). As part of the Consortium of the Humanities and the Arts South-East England (CHASE), funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, this Doctoral Training Partnership offers up to 56 Arts and Humanities studentships; a limited number is available for international applicants.
Scholars are entitled to receive a training grant and a stipend as well.
Aston University College of Business and Social Sciences
As a multidisciplinary college at Aston University, Birmingham, the College of Business and Social Sciences is home to researchers from Aston Business School, Aston Law School and the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Up to six fully-funded PhD studentships are available for application to any of these schools’ programmes.
The scholarship covers full tuition coverage at the international rate plus an annual maintenance grant of 15,840 pounds for three years. The basic requirement is merit in a master’s dissertation besides a first-class or second-upper-class honours degree.
University of St Andrews: Doctoral Scholarship in Biology and Statistics
St Leonard’s Postgraduate College at the University of St Andrews is offering a doctoral scholarship to suitably qualified students to take up research on developing novel methods for estimating the abundance of breeding grey seals.
The PhD scholarship covers full tuition fees for up to three and a half years on top of an annual maintenance stipend. You will have access to the free GRADskills training programme as well.
University of Liverpool: Accounting and Finance Subject Group
This PhD scholarship takes on a slightly different form as a Graduate Teaching Fellowship (GTF). Suppose you have a first or upper second-class honours degree plus a distinction for your master’s degree besides being committed to research. In that case, this GTF allows you to collect teaching experience together with your PhD studies.
Under the Accounting and Finance Subject Group, you will have the opportunity to complete a teacher training programme offered by the University of Liverpool, living stipend of 15,609 pounds plus a fee waiver will be awarded to exceptional applicants.
Swansea University: the UKRI CDT in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Advanced Computing
At Swansea University, you can apply for the four-year fully funded opportunity to research in these broad areas of particle physics and astronomy, biological and health, and mathematical and computer sciences. You will be trained in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and data analytics.
After training in the first year, you will have several short-term work placements in the second and third years. Besides full tuition fees, you will enjoy a stipend of 15,921 pounds and other allowances.
University of Exeter – PhD Scholarship
The University of Exeter’s generous funding scheme consists of two funding parts – one Research Masters in Economics and then a PhD programme in either Finance or Economics – both at the Business School. As part of the scholarship, students have to work as teaching or research assistants for about 180 hours (23 days) a year, which can help enhance research and education skills.
The funding includes a combined stipend and teaching allowance for 180 hours of 19,000 pounds per year. Students can also apply for additional funding for research, development and conference travel expenses.
Imperial College London: Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarship
One of the best universities in the UK, Imperial College London has up to 10 fully-funded Chemical Engineering PhD scholarships via the Chemical Engineering Department. The basic requirement is a First Class Honours Degree at a master’s level in chemical engineering or a related engineering/science. This scholarship is tenable for 42 months, covering both tuition fees and 21,400 pounds for maintenance.
Oxford University – Clarendon Scholarship
The Clarendon Scholarship is one of the most famous PhD scholarships. You do not need to submit a separate application form for this scholarship; when you apply for an Oxford University PhD programme, you automatically qualify to apply for the Clarendon Scholarship.
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Resources
10 PhD scholarships in the UK for international students 2022 – Study International
10 best Masters Scholarships in UK 2022 for International Students | xScholarship
Why I Wan Japa? - An upcoming Tech Bro gives his reason
Every young person in Nigeria wants to Japa. And rightly so because Nigeria does not provide an enabling environment for these youths to thrive.
Let’s hear the views of an upcoming tech bro about why he wants to japa.
Who is Ishaku Yunana?
You already know my name – Ishaku Yunana.
I am currently based in Shagamu, Ogun state.
I am a 21st-century technology-driven teacher and educator.
I teach science in Bethany schools here in Shagamu.
Also, I am into tech. I am a graphics designer and an upcoming web designer and developer. I just started recently; I’m learning web design using WordPress and Emulator.
I enjoy designing.
I enjoy creativity, anything that has to do with creativity or design. When talking about art, I’m talking about music, design, and anything that involves creativity; I enjoy it. If I’m not listening to music, I’m designing. If I’m not designing, I’m checking out recent designs and artworks that professionals have done to get inspiration.
I watch movies. I like movies that widen my imagination to increase my curiosity and creativity, not for fun. I like movies that have an engaging storyline.
Also, I enjoy reaching out to people and impacting people in any way I can. So, whenever I see someone need something, I help them as much as possible. And that has pushed me to try as much as possible to be versatile, even in things I have little interest in, to help people who need help in that area.
Is that not trying to be a jack of all trades?
I’m not trying to be a jack of all trades. I have my focus. I have where I am going. I know where I am going, but I try as much as possible to touch as many skills I can so that when I see somebody having an interest in such area, for example, content writing, I’ll be able to help them improve and push that skill to make something out of it. That has pushed me to attend webinars that may not necessarily be in my field just to get the knowledge.
I am an advocate of youth skill-up. The situation of the country is not encouraging, and one cannot depend on a government job. That’s why I encourage everybody to get skills.
That’s a bit about who I am.
Wow! That’s an earful.Given the current state of Nigeria, what are your career prospects? And are they attainable in Nigeria?
Well, the truth is that there’s not so much that the country can offer – I’m talking about opportunities and enabling environment for growth.
I have this philosophy of not worrying about things I can change and things I cannot change.
Yes, people are complaining about the state of things in the country. People are leaving the country, but I try as much as possible to have various options.
I want to become a professional graphics designer, and I have been looking for a way to make that happen in the country, despite the country’s situation.
As a graphics designer, I need a constant power supply and data; these things are not readily available right now. But, I have taken it upon myself to ensure that lack of these requirements does not pose a limitation for me.
Also, I try to be in an environment that supports my career growth; that’s why I left northern Nigeria and came to the South-West. I researched my career as a graphics designer and realised that South West is where those businesses thrive more because people patronise such services.
Aside from that, the internet has made things quite easy for us. As a graphics designer, I can render my services remotely to people outside Nigeria, like the US. Because of that, I try as much as possible to gain mastery in my skill so I’ll be able to attract international clients. I believe good work speaks for itself, notwithstanding nationality. People will not bother about your nationality when you do a good job. The world is now a global village, meaning you can make transactions anywhere. People from Thailand, the USA, and France can pay for your services.
I choose to see beyond my country and its limiting factors; The national grid has blown eleven times, and data is expensive. But I cannot keep complaining about things I cannot change; I’d rather change what I can and leave the ones I can’t change.
That’s a nice way to put it. It’s like the saying, ‘make lemonade out of your lemons.’Okay. So, I’ve heard your philosophy and everything. But, if you are given an opportunity to Japa, will you take it?
I will take it.
Seriously.
Why?
Because of the career, I am pursuing.
However, if Nigeria provides me with the enabling environment to develop myself professionally or if I can be in Nigeria and not be affected by the Nigerian economy, Japa will not be an option again.
For example, now, $1 is N710 on the black market. Some people are not affected by that because they transact in dollars, have dollar accounts, and their business is in dollars. So, even if they are affected, it’s usually by a small margin, unlike the poor masses. If I can be in that position, Japa will only be a vacation option. I can just travel out for the weekend or spend some months on vacation and return home, especially given that my career is something I can do remotely.
But as it is right now, if I’m in another country, it will be faster for me to achieve these things than in Nigeria because there they have stable electricity, cheap data, scholarships and other facilities that can help me achieve mastery in my skill within two years.
So, if I have the opportunity to Japa, I will go because it will help me achieve my goal earlier and faster than in Nigeria.
Okay.What are the things that you think if they are in place, you will not japa?
Well, the number one thing is light, stable power. If this country can have stable power, we are good to go.
Another thing is the issue of insecurity.
I know you may sound like wetin concern graphics designer with insecurity.
Yes, we are always online, but bad news gives negative vibes, and when you read too much bad news, it affects your creativity as a person and your thinking.
So, if we can fix the insecurity of this country, if we can have light, and if the government should be deliberate about investing in the youth, especially in the tech ecosystem.
I am yet to see a viable policy that helps youths in Nigeria to develop all these tech skills – they are not there. Many youths want to venture into tech careers, and we need good laptops. If the economy is bad, like the value of $1 is N710, and you want to buy a good laptop for graphic design, you’ll have to save up to seven hundred to eight hundred thousand naira.
The NCC responsible for regulating network in Nigeria are not helping matters. Network providers in this country give us data; at any rate, they see fit; there is no regulation.
As an individual that just finished school, finished NYSC, where they are paying you N33,000 only, where will you get the money to buy a good laptop and data? I know some corps members who have to borrow money or call home before they can travel back home after NYSC because you can’t save anything from N33k.
The government should look into data, light, insecurity issues and better allwaee for corps members. If these things can be solved, the economy will be better, and if one can get a good laptop between N100 – N200K, we are good to go.
Most people that Japa, didn’t go because of leisure or because they want to go. Some of them are not in the best condition, but that’s their last option. If things are working, many people will not leave this country.
You said your own is to make the best of any situation you find yourself in Nigeria.What is your advice to young people who want to Japa but don’t have the resources or the financial capacity to do that or are tied down in one way or the other in Nigeria? How can they make the best of their situation?
No matter how bad Nigeria is, there are still opportunities around. Find a problem and then provide a solution. By creating solutions to problems in society, you will generate income. Also, youths should not be too haste to make it because one of the things driving our youths crazy is that everyone wants to make it sharp. People are not patient enough to learn and master a skill that will earn them money. Everybody is just looking for ways to make money fast.
My advice to youths that want to Japa, calm down. Look around your community and find a problem. No community doesn’t have a problem. Find a problem and provide a solution to that problem through your services or goods, and you’ll be able to generate income.
Also, find a skill, especially a tech skill. For beginners, I’ll advise that you just don’t learn a skill and fold your hands. You are not yet a pro and cannot get contracts that will give you enough money. You have to find a job. While doing the job, you’ll be able to support yourself and invest in your skills and career till you become a professional.
That is what I am doing right now.
I am teaching right now. I love teaching because I read chemistry education in school, but I want to port to tech.
I can’t just say because I am a graphics designer doing a 5k job; I will just sit at home and survive on a 5k job. I know I have not reached the level where people can pay me N100k for a job. I know that. I can’t lie to myself. I have told myself the truth. That’s why I took the teaching job. So, I’m teaching, earning a salary that is not that big, but from there, I can save 5k to pay for online courses to boost my career. Also, from my salary, I can buy data to take my classes online and watch youtube videos. So, as I am doing my teaching job, I am also growing in my career. The time will come when I’ll reach the mastery that a client can pay me like 200k for a job. I will then resign from my teaching job and concentrate on my tech skills.
But many of our youths are in a hurry to blow. Someone just started content writing; because you are earning 2k, you’ll just sit at home, waiting for clients. You can spend one month, and nobody will even reach out to you because you don’t have a clientele, you don’t have networks. These things are all about networking. Once you can break into the circle, whether you advertise or not, clients will come because you are in that circle.
And you can only enter such a circle when you become a master in your skill; that’s when you’ll be able to sit with the big guns of your industry. Then, contracts will come to you naturally to the extent that you can even reject a job because you are busy.
So, be real with yourself. Tell yourself the truth and know your reality. If you don’t have money to Japa, and you don’t have anyone to sponsor your Japa, then start something. It could be little, it could be selling stuff, but just start something that will give you a continuous stream of income, no matter how little. With that money, you’ll be able to boost your career, develop your skill to mastery and become a professional.
That’s my advice to youths like me.
Thank you Ishaku for your time.
DO Launches International Scholarship Bootcamp and One-on-One Intensive Mentorship
International scholarships are a fantastic opportunity for international students to secure funds for their study abroad plans. There are countless international scholarship opportunities for African students to consider as more universities have realised the importance of diversity in their student bodies over time.
But where do you even begin?
How do you decide which scholarship to apply for, which course to enrol in, and which important papers to gather?
We understand your confusion and frustrations, which is why our Career Network launched an International Scholarship Bootcamp and 3 Months Intensive One-on-One Mentorship Program.
As scholarship applications start this August, we want to hold you by hand and walk you through the application process, support you with invaluable resources and ensure you get selected.
Introducing International Scholarship Bootcamp Mentors
In our drive to ensure your successful scholarship application, we will work with mentors to guide you step by step through the application procedure in line with their expertise.
The mentors are industry leaders and past awardees with amazing track records of excellence. Be rest assured they will get the job done.
Let’s introduce them to you.
Precious Ebere
Precious Ebere is a Chevening scholar, educational analyst, EDTech professional and Development Specialist with experience across policy, education, technology, civic leadership and youth engagement.
Precious holds a Master’s degree in Social and Public Policy from Cardiff University, United Kingdom.
She has led various youth-led organisations in different capacities. She sits in leadership & advisory positions of multiple international organisations such as the Young African Leaders Initiative Abuja (an initiative of the US Government in Nigeria), “DO” (dotakeaction.org), and a UNESCO Read and Earn Federation (UNESCO REF).
Precious has over six years of experience working in the development sector with NGOs, INGOs and companies in the development and local governance. She has worked with approximately 100 stakeholders in four African countries, including Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and the United Kingdom.
In 2021, Precious was selected as the first Nigerian to coordinate the Commonwealth Student Association (CSA) Network, United Kingdom. She has also served as the Vice President Postgraduate Executive, Cardiff University, United Kingdom, and sits on local and international boards.
Oluwafunmilayo Ladepo
Oluwafunmilayo Ladepo is a graduate of Architecture from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She completed her Master’s degree in 2001 and has since worked in Abuja.
Oluwafunmilayo began in the design and construction industry. She worked as an architect for a construction firm for three years, after which she worked with a renovation company as Project Architect until she joined the British High Commission (BHC) in April of 2006.
At the BHC, Oluwafunmilayo worked with the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) for 13 years; out of those, she was a team manager for seven years.
In July 2019, Oluwafunmilayo joined the Chevening network, where she managed the selection process annually. The most rewarding experience for her was the opportunity to proffer ideas on the best possible engagement strategies for Chevening alumni.
The Chevening portfolio is extensive and involves setting annual goals to improve our selection processes, marketing processes, alumni engagement and partnership opportunities.
Faith Moyosore Agboola
Faith Moyosore Agboola is a Writer, Education Consultant, Global Speaker, and the founder of AFM Stories Ltd (@afmstories), a capacity-building platform connecting students, graduates and early career professionals to local and global study abroad and funding opportunities with high success rates.
Due to the impact of the AFM Stories brand, she was nominated in the 2021 SME 100 25 under 25 awards impact in the education category, which recognises impactful entrepreneurs in Nigeria under the age of 25. Due to her education and career development work, she was recently featured as a panellist at the United Kingdom’s Pavilion in the Dubai Expo, one of the greatest celebrations of human brilliance on earth, featuring millions of visitors from 160 nations of the world in Dubai, UAE. She shared her growing ideas on the future of education and teaching entrepreneurship to stakeholders on education.
She is also a published writer and the founder of The African Writers (africanwriters). This award-winning digital literary organisation has impacted over 20,000 writers through online initiatives and physical conferences.
She was awarded the prestigious FCDO Chevening Scholarship for global leaders to study for a master’s degree in Creative Enterprise at De Montfort University in the UK in 2020. She finished in 2022 with Distinction. She was also awarded a Gold Scholarship to sponsor her undergraduate degree in History and International Relations at Redeemer’s University. She eventually graduated in 2015 at 18 with a first-class degree. As the best graduating student in her department, the faculty of Humanities and she also won 7 other academic excellence awards.
Jephte Loudom Foubi
Jephte Loudom Foubi is a Cameroonian and cloud data engineering professional. He builds cloud data platforms for organisations in diverse industries, including Market research, Fast moving consumer goods, consulting and Hospitality. Jephte is also passionate about leadership, volunteerism and culinary explorations.
Do you wish to secure a fully funded international scholarship to further your education?
Do yourself a huge favour and register now.
The BootCamp kicks off on 5th August, 2022.
Click here to register with us now.
It’s free.
Essential things you must have before you japa
People don tire for Nigeria.
Any forward-thinking Nigerian youth is desperately seeking for means to japa.
But there are some essentials you must have before you japa if you want peace of mind.
Here are the essentials you must have before you japa
1. Get a passport
The first step to making plans to leave Nigeria is to have a valid passport.
Japa issue aside, an international passport is one of the essential documents a global citizen must have, whether they have travel plans or not.
Start applying for your passport well ahead of your travel, especially if you require visas from foreign embassies.
Though the passport application procedure is typically very straightforward, occasionally, administrative issues arise and make the entire process take much longer than expected.
2. Get the right visas
People are denied entry to countries daily because they lack the necessary visas; in such cases, you are not even permitted to leave the airport.
This “small mistake” could cost you thousands of dollars because you’ll have to depart the country immediately on the next available flight.
To avoid such misfortune, research and find out about the visa requirements for your destination country and ensure you have it.
3. Accommodation
You don’t want to land in a foreign land and sleep on the streets.
That is why having a friend, relative or acquaintance in your destination country is advisable. The person will pick you up from the airport and make sure you have a place to lay your head and eat good food till you find your bearings.
However, if you don’t have anyone or you are just touring, it is wise to pre-book at least one night’s accommodation in a hotel or motel.
4. Viable credit and debit cards
Travelling abroad is a big move, especially if you plan to stay for an extended period. Therefore, getting your finances straight is paramount.
Call your bank and credit card companies to let them know where you’ll be before you leave for your travel; if they discover foreign charges without knowing you’re travelling, they may freeze your cards, which may be quite inconvenient if you’re at a store or trying to pay for a meal.
A wiser option would be to have a foreign bank account and credit/debit cards to enable you to carry out your financial transactions smoothly.
Also, find out the exchange rate and know how much things generally cost in your destination country so that you get some sense of how much you will spend.
5. Means of livelihood
It is wise to have a viable means of livelihood in the destination country, especially if you’ll be staying for long.
For those travelling through the scholarship route, you may not need to worry much about earning a living to support yourself, especially if it is fully funded.
But for those who are going there to settle or who have partial scholarships, it is expedient to have a means of livelihood.
You could be a professional, a skilled artisan, a technician, or a business person; just ensure you have the competencies to thrive in your destination country.
6. Comfortable clothing
There’s nothing as inconvenient as packing the wrong clothes for harsh weather.
There are stories of people packing sweaters and cardigans for a snow-falling country, only to find out that their clothing was almost useless for the weather they meet there.
It is important to know the weather peculiarity of your target country, the type of clothes they wear for different weather conditions, the cost of the clothes and where you can buy them; this knowledge will help you plan your wardrobe and pack the right clothes.
7. Adaptable Devices
In this tech age and knowledge economy, it will be a misfortune not to have the right electronic devices with the right capacity for your target country.
You don’t want to be unable to do your work because your laptop cannot carry the electric current of your target country.
To avoid such problems, find out the electric capacity of your target country and check if your devices can adapt. You can also buy adapters to enable you to carry on with your life and work smoothly.
8. Have a budget.
This is especially useful if you plan to stay for a lengthy period. Check out the cost of living in the country you want to go to and calculate your monthly expenses for things like accommodation, food, transportation, and entertainment. If you are on a personal tour, estimate how much you will spend on lodging, restaurants, excursions, sightseeing, etc.
In any case, be prudent about the costs and bring more cash than you anticipate needing. Be ready for any unforeseen events and emergencies that may occur.
9. Get a travel insurance
Before you travel, try to get travel insurance; that is a smart way to protect your trip, and your money is to purchase travel insurance unless your study or work package covers your insurance.
If not, consider buying a short-term insurance policy covering your health, accidents, loss or mishap while abroad.
Remember, you are not in your home country where you might have friends and families step in for you; you are a long way from home. So, It’s good to over-prepare.
10. Get vaccinated and have a mini medical kit
First, you need to go for a thorough medical checkup to ensure that you are in good health. After that, get your COVID-19 shot. You could require particular vaccinations or pills as a preventative measure against various diseases, depending on where you’re going.
Make sure you have enough of any prescription medications you typically take to last the duration of your trip to avoid running out while you’re away from home. Also, it’s a good idea to bring non-prescription medications (such aspirin etc.) that might not be simple to find, especially if you’re travelling to a remote location.
Do you need more tips like these?
Join our Career Network for more tips, training, and job and scholarship opportunities.
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My experience in the Nigerian job market
How do you survive in Nigeria’s cutthroat job market?
Let’s hear Raphael Sani Enejo.
Let's meet you
Raphael Sani Enejo, or SanRaph for short, is my name. I worked with Semicolon Africa, and now I am working with my partners to get my pre-series A funded and pre-market-fit company to the market called izigo, a logistics aggregation platform that serves vendors and logistics companies – checkout izigo.ng
I like cycling as in mountain biking. I am considered uptight, but I can loose it when my favourite jam is up or when I share similar vibes with a person, so call me crazy; I won’t mind.
I hate games of chance because I never win, I love computer racing games, and I read to relax; I just dive into the rabbit hole and lose the concept of time with a nice book. People say I am always unaware of my environment, but I’ll leave you to be the judge of it. I believe in a utopian future and Roko’s Basilisk while acknowledging the supremacy of God Almighty. I hate organised religion, but I love the idea of faith.
I am an optimist who believes that hard work is key to creating a better future and changing circumstances; it pays. The result may not show today or tomorrow, but those who put in the work have a better story to tell.
What do you do for a living?
I am an entrepreneur who started as a software engineer.
How long did it take you to secure your current job?
After school, it took me two years to secure a job. Within those years, I read entrepreneurship books that I will be happy to recommend or discuss.
I upskill and improved in areas that needed improving and, most importantly, joined a community of software engineers to keep abreast with the ever-changing industry.
In those years, I basically read books, exercised and joined communities.
You read, exercised and joined communities? How were you able to meet your needs without a job?
For the first year, I lived with my family. My mother is pretty supportive. She believes in me like no other, which is very helpful. In the second year, Semicolon Africa paid my expenses for a year Bootcamp before joining their workforce, which is a huge advantage of joining a good community.
I know it can be very hard to not move at the speed you expect, giving you sleepless nights and PTSD. It can be brain-tasking to budget limited funds.
This is my advice:
Trust that life means well and that God is in Heaven and all is well with the world. Take chances for things that matter to you and never look back. If it didn’t work, move unto the next one and listen to your heart and gut for directions; they already mapped your course. You just need to know how to read the map. Self is your greatest friend, make him an ally, and perhaps the journey will be less complicated.
Wow! It's good to have such a supportive family
I tell you.
I truly tell you.
My Mom stands out.
You must have been exceptional to be retained by Semicolon. What was your role? Instructor?
No. I was retained as an engineer for Semicolon Labs, an arm of the company that builds systems for banks and insurance companies. Semicolon is many things, the bootcamp arm is popular because that’s the one that gets advertised or talked about.
What's your experience in the Nigerian labour market?
The Nigerian Labour market is a tough terrain based on the current state of the public market and economic downturn; companies are cutting the cost of hiring, thereby making it harder for those coming in for entry positions. However, to the brave-hearted, the downturn presents nothing but opportunities, those who are ready to change their mindset, plan, solve genuine problems and create a workforce of their own.
My experience in the Nigerian Labour market is the usual sweet and sour combo where you are sometimes paid lower than your current market value. Still, my mantra has always been to stick around as long as I learn something new at work. Your experience will eventually pay off the low-ball days if you do that.
What is your advice to recent graduates?
Shake off the contrarian theory that the government is supposed to cushion you, especially the Nigerian government. The greatest investment you will ever make is self-development. As a graduate, it’s not yet time to drop the ball, take the boot camp, start a business or learn a new skill online. Don’t relax; the journey has just begun.
Thank you so much sir for sharing your experience with me
Thank you
Soft skills teachers can teach their students to prepare them for life after school
We live in a system where soft skills are paramount. Soft skills determine the result of every relationship, whether personal or professional; they can be used to communicate with neighbours and friends to persuade a client to seal a sale.
Soft skills are desirable traits like communication, grit, integrity, time management, critical thinking, creativity, teamwork etc., that apply to various jobs and daily life.
Soft skills are therefore crucial at this time. We must instil in our children these soft skills during their formative years if we want them to bring out the best in them and be ready to tackle life fully in all its ramifications.
Here are some soft skills teachers can teach their students to prepare them for life after school
Communication
Every teacher should strive to develop their students’ communication through writing exercises, discussions, debates and presentations. They should teach them to communicate clearly, concisely and confidently without slouching, mumbling, or covering their mouths with their hands. Leveraging formal oral speaking opportunities like individual or group presentations, holding interactive sessions, and pairing up students on the first day to do interviews with one another and introduce their partner to the class, will help them develop communication skills.
Teamwork
Teamwork skills are a mix of interpersonal, problem-solving, communication, and interactional skills required by a group working on a project and toward a common goal. Place a strong emphasis on cooperation, communication, integrity, and responsibility.
Divide your students into groups and assign them in-class time to research a topic and present as a group. Require that each team member spend an equal time presenting a portion of the information.
Emotional Intelligence
People with emotional intelligence can control or better manage their emotions and sympathise with people around them.
Often, teenagers are unempathetic and inconsiderate in how they treat people of lower status around them. They insult homeless people on the street corner and make jest of poor students without even considering that there might be a reason for their predicament.
Teach your children to empathise with other people’s predicaments. Bring them to a soup kitchen or charity event to volunteer, organise donations to the less fortunate in your class and encourage them to help needy people around them.
Time Management
Time management is a crucial skill in this fast-paced age. You need time management to function in all ramifications of life.
All students should master time management skills because they will need them both in school and after they start working. In addition to learning how to manage their schoolwork, students must also learn how to balance their work obligations. Students can learn how to handle these issues by completing the time management challenge.
You can inculcate this skill into your students by giving them in-class tasks, projects and assignments with deadlines for submission. Those who beat the deadlines should be rewarded accordingly.
Critical Thinking
Higher levels of intellectual capacity are attained through enhancing critical thinking skills such as problem-solving and cognitive activity.
Incorporate critical thinking skills into the classroom by presenting examples from the real world to make the lessons applicable. Your students will be more engaged with your lesson material and find connections between what you are teaching them and their futures the more relevant you can make your teachings. In addition to keeping students interested, experiential learning activities enable them to apply the skills they are learning in the real world.
Creativity
Creativity is the process of turning thoughts, fantasies, and desires into reality. History demonstrates that imagination is the foundation of creativity and that many things we dream up later become a reality. The future cannot exist without innovation.
Children’s mental and cognitive growth is aided by encouraging their creative brilliance, which also helps them concentrate better and learn new information more quickly.
Taking a break from classroom instruction to do trips, tours, and sight-seeing where they may see real-world applications of what they are being taught in school is one approach to unleash the creative genius in your students.
Encourage them to journal as this will help them to articulate their thoughts and keep track of their ideas.
You can also organise brainstorming sessions, where you give them a difficult task to do without guidelines and see what they will come up with.
Grit
According to Angela Duckworth, grit is a personality attribute that combines passion and perseverance. Grit is a desirable, non-cognitive quality based on a person’s drive and resilience in pursuing a certain long-term target (a powerful motivation to achieve an objective). This persistence in effort encourages the removal of barriers or difficulties that stand in the way of achievement and acts as a catalyst for achievement realisation.
Teach your students to develop grit by incorporating a ‘not yet’ grade into your grading system. Give your students a “not yet” grade rather than failing them, and encourage them to revisit the topic, project, or task until they understand it.
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Resources
Soft Skills: Preparing Kids for Life After School – AMLE
How to Teach Your Kids the Most Important Soft Skills That Aren’t Taught in Schools – Lifehack
Angela Duckworth: What Is the Meaning of “Grit?” | Shortform Books