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The National Universities Commission (NUC) on realization of the need to put in place some management structure that would guide the orderly academic development of the University in the performance of its statutory functions of teaching, research and development as well as public service proposed and established the Academic Planning Unit in Nigerian Universities in the early 1980’s. Establishment of the Academic Planning Units in Nigerian universities is in response to the need to coordinate and streamline the academic policies and activities arising from sudden and sometimes uncoordinated growth, development and proliferation of programmes and units in the university system. Academic Planning Unit also handles the collection and management of data and information to guide the academic development of universities while ensuring compliance with NUC’s Minimum Academic Standards (MAS) and with the university senate’s academic regulations. Structure of the Academic Planning Unit The Academic Planning Unit is an integral part of the Vice Chancellor's office and headed by a Director. The Academic Planning Unit of Osun State University is currently headed by headed by Dr. M. O. Abanikannda, an Associate Professor of Computing/IT Education. The Director of Academic Planning Unit is complimented by other staff members. These include the Academic Planning Officer, Secretary, and Clerical Staff/Office Assistant.

Functions of Director of Academic Planning:

The Director of Academic Planning of Osun State University is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor in the general superintendence over the academic and administrative affairs of the Academic Planning Unit which include the following:

1. Coordination and collation of information to National Universities Commission (NUC) for national planning purposes.

2. Promotion of the quality of teaching, learning and research in the university through periodic evaluation of academic activities in the University Monitoring and advising on the growth of department and establishment of positions in various units of the University and advise the Vice-Chancellor on the creation of new positions;

3. Monitoring the FTE (Full Time Equivalent) students enrolment in relation to staff strength; Guide academic and related units of the University on the operations of the Academic Brief and participate in the review of the academic Brief and general curriculum development, as at when due;

4. Liaise with National Universities Commission (NUC) on matters relating to academic planning and quality assurance including the University System Annual Review Meetings (USARM), system-wide programme audit, and other academic matters that may be of interest and benefit to the University;

5. Coordinate and ensure compliance of academic and other units of the university with NUC guidelines on academic and other matters; Process proposals for the creation of new Departments and introduction of new programmes;

6. Coordinate and guide academic units/departments for purposes of programme accreditation and continuous quality assurance;

7. Coordinate and ensure the provision of conductive teaching, learning and research environment in the University;

8. Monitor the efficient and effective utilization of academic resources; Participate in the review of academic programme curricular of the University and evaluation of proposal for new academic programmes;

9. Generate and periodically update the University databank/statistics on academic and other matters and make necessary projections for the attention of the Vice-Chancellor; Generate policies for and identify priorities in the academic development of the University for the consideration of senate through the development committee;

10. Recommend desirable changes in the academic and administrative structures of the University to the Development Committee;

11. Participate in the preparation of the University Annual Budget; Maintain a computer based data bank on student and staff statistics for use in planning, budgeting and other management requirements

12. Carry out all other duties assigned by the Vice-Chancellor.

Philosophy:

The philosophy of the Academic Planning Unit is to enhance efficiency in pursuit of the mandate of the University and to ensure the generation, dissemination and publication of qualitative ideas, information and knowledge.

Vision:

To provide cutting-edge and excellent academic planning service with global standard.

Mission:

The mission of the Directorate of Academic Planning is to establish an integrated planning mechanism for the accomplishment of the goals of the University in order to ensure the operations are directed towards achieving stated objectives.

Activities:

It is the responsibility of the Unit to synthesize all data available in the University for the publication of the University Statistical digest. Specifically, the Unit’s functions are as follows:

- Planning
- Preparation of Academic Brief
- Curriculum Development and Evaluation
- Preparation of Annual Recurrent Estimates Monitoring of Resource Allocation and Utilization
- Accreditation of Degree Programmes - Collation and publication of data on Staff and Students
- Liaison with other Colleges, Schools, Departments and Units
- Data Base Management

Community Empowerment Service Project:

The University, as it is its practice, engaged in quite a number of community related services in the period under review. The highlights of these are presented as follows:

(i) Health Related Service/Engagement:

(a) Hepatitis B Awareness Campaign - The College of Health Sciences organized a public lecture to raise the awareness of members of the public on Hepatitis B and provided free Hepatitis B screening exercise for many people. The title of the lecture was “Global Elimination of Viral Hepatitis by 2030” and it was delivered a professor of Medicine and Consultant Gastroenterologist / Hepatologist, Professor D. A. Ndububa on 21st may, 2024.

(b) Awareness campaign on Mental Health – The College of Health Sciences organized its students of Medicine and Surgery to conduct an awareness campaign in the Osogbo Community in the month of November 2023. The campaign was on for 2 days and students seized the opportunity to counsel members of the public on the importance of mental health, lifestyles that precipitate bad mental health, and the need to seek medical advice any time they sensed symptoms of abnormal mental health.

(c) Community Health Outreach for UNIOSUN-Campus Hosting Communities The University undertook community health outreach services to the following towns hosting each of its Campuses: Osogbo, Okuku, Ejigbo, Ikire, Ifetedo and Ipetu-Ijesa. The exercise involved basic tests and diagnosis, as well as free medications for minor ailments.

(ii) Renovation of Patrol Vehicles for the Police: The University did a complete overhaul of two (2) dysfunctional police patrol vehicles and handed them back to the police to enhance their effective security surveillance and functionality. One of the vehicles was overhauled and given back to the Ipetu-Ijesha divisional police office while the other was done for the Oja-Oba division.

(iii) Reconstruction of Osun Grove/Isale-Osun Bridge As part of its corporate social responsibility, the University reconstructed the bridge that links the College of Health Science, Isale-Osun Campus to the Osogbo Community. That was a bridge with an average daily vehicular passage of 300 and thousands of pedestrians. It is the same bridge that links the Osun Grove. The bridge collapsed and made the road unpassable for months before the University took up the reconstruction in May 2023.

(iv) Massive farm product sale at cheap prices to members of the public: The University’s College of Agriculture, through its Teaching and Research farm, embarked a massive farming and farm produce within the period. On weekly basis, the Farm sold such the following food items to members of the public: cassava, garri, rice, cucumber, eggs, dried fish, honey, etc. The items were sold at very cheap rate compared to the prevailing food prices in town at the time.

(v) Lectures on Topical issues of Public Interest: The University organized quite a good number of public lectures that immensely benefitted members of the public within the period. Some of these include:

(a) Public lectures on topical issues and issues of public importance organised by the University Colleges.

(b) Inaugural lectures delivered by Professors with a large number of members of the public.