ENHANCING ELECTRONICS EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

There is need to ensure that electronics education is used as a method of ensuring that the sustainable technological development in Nigeria is achieved with students gaining the skills that can be used to establish innovation in fields such as renewable energy and IoT. Teachers are however hampered by old curricula, poor facilities, and lack of connections to the industry led to poor graduate employability and national economic growth as an SDG goal under Sustainable development goals 9. This paper evaluates electronics education in Enugu State, Nigeria with respect to University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). Mixed-methods research design allowed collecting data among 100 final-year students, 20 lecturers, and 15 industry stakeholders by means of questionnaires and interviews, and the analysis of curriculum documents on the relevance of contents. The data indicate that 7 out of 10 students are not proficient with modern tools (such as MATLAB and Arduino), and 8 out of 10 lecturers mention a lack of up-to-date facilities to be a barrier. Stakeholders in the industry argue that it is critical to have an applied training on green technologies. A suggested curriculum structure combines project-based curriculum, simulation applications, and industry connections to improve competencies and develop sustainability orientation. Recommendations are the agenda on curriculum reformations, heightening of resources, roping in of faculty training, and Integration of industries and promotion of policies. A framework to align the electronics education to support the objectives of the country in technology and sustainability, improve graduate employment and local innovation is provided in this study.