COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRINT BASED GRAPHIC DESIGN FACILITIES IN SELECTED UNIVERSITIES AND THE GRAPHIC DESIGN INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to comparePrint based graphic design facilities in selected universities and thegraphic design industry in Nigeria, as it relates to promote the impacting of productive knowledge among professionals in the universities and Print based graphic design industry, by ensuring that the right facilities are made available in Nigerian public universities. This is in line with the expectation that design schools in the 21th century, should be equipped for the modern world, so that students are sufficiently prepared for inclusive participation in the Nigeria Print industry. The study however, went further to understandwhy graduates have to undergo re-training programme after graduation to fit into the production line,similarly why students are often rejected by companies when posted for Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). This study examines and explains the relationship between public universities and Print based design industry in Nigeria. The following objectives were considered (i) examine the availability of print based facilities in public universities. (ii) compare the teaching facilities in selected Nigerian universities and those of the print-based industry (iii) determine the level of collaboration between print-based industry and public universities in Nigeria. Descriptive survey method and percentage analysis were employed for the study, Primary data were gathered from the field in 4 federaluniversities which are; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; AbubakarTafawaBalewa University, Bauchi; Federal University of Technology, Akure andModibboAdama University of Technology, Yola. The 8printing companiesas well are; Excell Global printers Ltd and Unique – Ace Integrated Ltd, in Kaduna. ATBU ATIL printing Press and Ramadan Press, In Bauchi, in YolaAbtiPress and Microtrend Digital Prints and lastly, in Akure Flamingos Digital prints and Signal 7000 digital. The sample size was among 10 graphic design lecturers, 50 final year undergraduate students,11 graphic design graduate staff and8 supervisorsworking in the Print graphicdesign indusry.Findings from the study show that the Print-based designindustry has state-of the-art printing facilities andalso existing gap in the level of collaboration between public universities and Print-based design industry.Technological-enabled education programme is the key to fundamental, wide-ranging educational reforms. Consequently, Industrial Design institutions in Nigeria should assume a leadership role in the transformation of education in the swirl of rapid technological changes. Accordingly, for Nigerian education to reap the full benefits of Technology in learning. This research endeavour have made a considerable stride in the understanding of the impact of Print based graphic design facilities in public universities in Nigeria towards producing a new caliber of students whose professional ability are very essential in a developing economy.Nigeria universities should re-invent themselves by working collaboratively with the industry to provide the skills relevant to students after graduation. Institutions and Industrial Design programme must provide the leadership for students and industries and model the new pedagogies and tools for learning through effective strategic plan. However, a successful and effective strategic plan depends to the extent to which proper implementation and monitoring are carried

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Education is playing a major role for the progress of individuals and societies, changes in both technology and commerce encourage new approaches to learning and teaching. Around the world, the level of educational personalisation and diversity of possible educational environments is increasing. New devices, analytical approaches and tools, instrumentation of the learning process, and digital blended learning are all continuing to change traditional educational models and improve educational successes (Browse, 2015). Following this logic, trainees need be exposed to hands-on training through intensive use of modern printing facilities that are found in the printing industry. Printing companies globally have adopted digital technologies to streamline and redefine their print operations. Different forms of automated print equipment like computer-to-plate, direct imaging presses and other publishing devices have become regular features in the printing industry. It was in line with this development in the printing industry that Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has re-invented itself to provide the skills needed for a new generation of publishing and promotion professionals. Pandit (2008) raised the issue of the increasing reliance of the printing industry on work-based training in the United Kingdom, thus leading to a fall in the demand for classroom-based training. London College of Communication had to respond by redefining printing education to be much more than printing craft and processes. This cannot be compared with what is on ground in some of the Industrial design departments in Nigerian universities the Heidelberg letterpress printing machine,whichaccording to Fuller (2012) that the Heidelberg letterpress printing machine is presently on display as a museum artifact in the RIT New York. In RIT there is an exciting workshop series every semester, where students are requested to make suggestions on topics (software and curriculum trends in use) that would enhance the curriculum at the beginning of every semester. It was observed that students have sound network and can interact easily with their peers in other institutions

Anecdotal evidences have shown that Nigerian universities are facing tremendous pressure from very dramatic forces that include;shifting population demographics, the deteriorating condition of Nigerian educational system and rapid technological changes are challenging Nigerian‟s long held educational glory. In response to which stakeholders in education (Government, Administrators, Educators, Parents and Students) are striving to determine how twenty-first century educational facilities should be; respond to the needs of learners, and interact with the community. The emergence and impact of digital technologies have further played a crucial role in transforming the printing industry in Nigeria from a manufacturing industry to a service industry, as many downstream sectors have demanded graphic design services to streamline their digital and print brand presence. In response, many graphic designers have expanded their product portfolios to include more interactive media design, as revitalization in many downstream markets such as healthcare, telecommunication, education, technology and financial services suggest the demand for graphic design services. This by extension brings about development in the graphic design industry. These developments, when combined, have enormous bearings on the type and quality of training required in developing workforce for the printing industry (Afolabi, 2014). The competence of printing education is a vital factor in this situation, a new age of printing where greater competence and expertise are required to control and manage technologies as well as meet the needs of client. The universities in Nigeria, on the other hand, have been experiencing massive enrolment into various industrial design programmes. As such, learning can be carried out more effectively with appropriate facilities of providing knowledge. Adewumi (2002) posits that some available facilities found in universities for problem solving have become obsolete for teaching and learning. This has created vacuum in the learning process and the need to explore current trends in the contemporary practice, where technology is now permeating the educational system as a tool for effective teaching and learning (Oshinaiko&Adekunmisi, 2012). In view of this, both graduates and undergraduates that did not or have not acquired training with the contemporary practicing trends in terms of facilities in printing can hardly be of relevance in the printing industry in Nigeria

Mac-Ikemenjima (2005) opines that in a complex society like Nigeria, many factors affect the use of technology and its integration, so an interdisciplinary and integrated approach is very necessary to ensure the successful development of Nigeria‟s economy and society. As engaged with current debates and developments in today’s printing profession, it is apprehensive that there is little or no collaboration between the universities and the print industry. However, to improve the quality of education in schools, the researcher is of the view for the adoption of functional context approach to learning in industrial design departments, where transfer of learning from the classroom to the “real world” will be enhanced.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Collins, Holum and Brown (1991) are of the view that too little attention is paid to the reasoning and strategies that experts employ when they acquire knowledge or put it to work to solve complex or real-life situation. As a result, conceptual and problem-solving knowledge acquired in school remains largely inert for many students. This lends credence for a new epistemology for learning, one that lay emphasis on active perception over concepts and representation.As such, it is deduced that;

1. Knowledge needs to be presented in an authentic context, i.e., settings and applications that would normally involve that knowledge.
2. Learning requires social interaction and collaboration.

Sequent to the analogy of the above theories, it could be inferred that, the presence of technology alone will not stimulate significant changes in enhancing the knowledge quality of students without their involvement. Most students may wish to take advantage of the available benefit of technology on their own; but a key concern is the question of whether these state- of the- art print-based graphic design learning facilities are readily on ground or not in public universities. This goes to explain why graduates have to undergo re-training programme after graduation to fit into the production line as significant changes are continuing in the industry, thus demanding a skilled workforce with up-to-date technical competencies (Afolabi, 2014); and why students are often rejected by companies when posted for Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). Therefore, this

study is embarked upon to bridge the gap; this will be done through a comparative study of the print-based graphic design facilities in public universities and those found in the print-based industries in Nigeria to understand the interface between training and industry.

justification of the Study

The quest by print-based graphic design industry for universities to produce graduates with marketable skills, in the fusion of the obsolete nature of the teaching and learning facilities which has been recorgnised for long by scholars like Adewumi, but the printing aspect has not been thoroughly explored and documented hence the need, to explore dynamics surrounding lingering evidence that the Nigerian education sector especially the university system produces graduates that do not meet the need of the labour market (Olaiya, 2011). These claims need to be reviewed in the research.

1.4 Aim of the Study

The aim of the study is to compare print based graphic design facilities in selected universities and graphic design industry in Nigeria.

To achieve the aim of the study the following objectives are out lined.

1.5 Objectives of the Study to;

• examine the availability of print based facilities in public universities.
• compare the teaching facilities in some selected Nigerian universities and those of the print-based industry.
• determine the level of collaboration between print-based industry and public universities in Nigeria.

1.6 Research Questions

To achieve the above objectives the following research questions were formulated for the study:

• whatare the available facilities in the printing sections Nigerian universities?
• what is the gap between teaching facilities in some selected Nigeria universities and those of the print-based industry?
• what is the level of collaboration between print-based industry and public universities in Nigeria?

1.7 Significance of the Study

The study on “Comparative Study of Print-based graphic Design Facilities in Selected

Universities and Graphic Design Industry in Nigeria” Is significant in several ways;such asfocusing primarily on facilities (equipment and materials) of international standard, since we are in an era where technology is the play of the day and the bedrock of any nation‟s economy. This study ensures greater diversity of graphic design solution particularly with the use of relevant modern facilities, equipment, ideas and materials and also significant in its contribution towards the enhancement of notable transformation process that the profuse use of adequate facilities in public universities promotes Expanding the frontiers of graphic design practice will be enormous, when the level of collaboration between design industries and public universities in Nigeria is intensively pursued and serve as basis for developmental innovation in the graphic design community. The study will contribute to, by creating more job opportunities for many graduates that can meet the needs of the labour market, by exploring the creative potential and opportunities in the use of Industry‟s printing facilities, standard equipment and software packages, This study will be an additional source of literature relating to the subject area of the study, by improving on the available related literature on graphic design facilities available in public universities in Nigeria.

1.8 Scope of the Study

The study was focused on the availability of print-base graphic designfacilities in some Nigerian public universities and selected print-base graphic design companies. It includes the types of facilities, quality and availability of equipment and materials. The public universities are Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; AbubakarTafawaBalewa University, Bauchi; Federal University of Technology, Akure; and ModibboAdama University of Technology, Yola. However, the study is delimited to undergraduate students of the above mentioned schools. Two print-base graphic design companies were considered from each of the states where these design schools are located. They are: Excell Global printers Ltd and Unique – Ace Integrated Ltd, in Kaduna. ATBU ATIL printing Press and Ramadan Press, In Bauchi, in Yola,Abti Press and Microtrend Digital Prints and lastly, in Akure Flamingos Digital prints and Signal 7000 digital. These companies were considered because their printing facilities are contemporary standard efficient printing machines and have also employed graduates who studied graphic design.

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