Directorate of Research & Creative Thoughts

There is no doubt that African countries need to participate in the global knowledge economy. This is done by increasing human resources investments in cutting-edge research activities. Ivory Towers have the responsibility of transformation of society as universities are in a unique position to provide innovative solutions to challenges facing the continent. Hence, universities being the engine of development, research have to be approached in a vigorous manner.
Absorbing the vision and mission of the Federal University of Lafia, the Directorate of Research and Creative Thoughts thus aspires to key into these frameworks thereby helping to make Federal University of Lafia a world class center of excellence that will be placed among the top five Universities in Africa.
To achieve this dream there is need for cutting-edge research, collaboration and synergy. Hence, the Directorate of Research and Creative Thoughts is mapping out strategies and action plans to ensure its vision and mission coincides with that of the Federal University of Lafia both in theory and practice. It is in the light of this that the directorate comes up with the following strategic plan and direction as well as blueprint to achieve its goal in no distant time.

• Focus on increasing our internationally co-created and co-authored research outputs;
• Increase the number of research partnerships with business by 25%;
• Increase the level of Knowledge Exchange Income by 20%; and
• Improve our positioning within the top 25% of UK Universities within the next REF assessment for research power
• Increase the level of our overall research grant awards by 50%;
• Provide support, incentives and leadership for researchers to undertake interdisciplinary research of global excellence funded by the most prestigious grant awarding bodies;
• Strongly embed within our research environment FULafia’s chosen interdisciplinary research themes of creativity and culture, healthy communities, sustainability and social renewal, underpinned by investment from FULafia;
• Give greater clarity around what it means to be a great FULafia researcher so that each colleague understands the personal expectations of everyone, which will enable us to realise our strategic ambitions;
• Enhance the institutional support for developing impact pathways, creating value within the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia; and
• Integrate the Strategic Plan for Research & Creative Thought 2023-2028 to FULafia’s Education and Global Engagement Strategies, ensuring collective measures to realize the vision and mission of FULafia.