Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

 

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MECHANICAL/PRODUCTION ENGINEERING PROGRAMME

The Programme was established in 1982, amongst the three pioneer Programmes in the School of Engineering of the Federal University of Technology, Bauchi, under the head-ship of Professor Moore, a British national.

The Programme graduated its first set of Students in 1985/86 session and has, since then, graduated Students every year.

The Programme has been managed by a number of Coordinators including: Engr. Dr. A. Abdullahi, Engr. Dr. P.O. Aiyedun, Dr. G.M. Afeti, Dr. Anokye, Engr. Dr. M. L. Audu, Dr. A. A. Asere, Engr. Dr. J. S. Jatau, Mr. Aje Tokan, Engr. Dr. M. H. Muhammad and currently Engr. Dr. G. Egbo.

Since inception, there has been only one First class graduate. Intake has continued to rise steadily from less than twenty to as high as seventy. It has full compliments of essential laboratories, which are fully equipped and utilized for students' training. The Postgraduate programmes have produced Ph. D. and M. Eng. graduates over the years in disciplines of Mechanical/Production Engineering and offers an invaluable service to the nation in this regard since the students come from all over Nigeria in the academia, Government and Industry. The Programme is rated among the very best in the Country as attested by NUC rating in 1999/2000 and has products lecturing in other Universities in Nigeria and abroad. There have always been international students from India , Bangladesh , Pakistan and very many from Chad , Cameroon and Niger republic.

The staff comprises of very confident, experienced, qualified and hard-working personnel. The laboratory staffs are absolute authorities in equipment handling and practical classes.

There has been Linkages, over the years, with the Departments of Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria , Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Bayero University , Kano , Federal University of Technology, Minna, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife. External examiners, PG Supervisors, and honorary Staff have been appointed from these Universities.

PHILOSOPHY, VISION AND OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAMME

The Philosophy of the Mechanical/Production Engineering Programme is to train-out knowledgeable Mechanical Engineers of sound scientific foundation that will support and expedite industrial development and national self-reliance for the optimal utilization of local raw materials as inputs for Nigerian industries. The programme is designed to identify and pursue applied research and development opportunities, that offer the greatest potentials for commercialization by industries and emphasizes increased local content and value-added manufacturing. The implementation of research findings will serve as catalysts for development in National planning, in the areas of industries, health sector, agricultural mechanization, commerce, education etc.

The vision of the Mechanical/Production Engineering Programme of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University , Bauchi is to become known as a centre of excellence in Mechanical Engineering, where quality scientific and technological knowledge for advancement of humankind is achieved. The vision entails that the activities of the programme will be geared towards the development of sound minded, intellectually balanced, highly creative and innovative Engineers are produced.

To achieve this, specific features of the programme include:

• Foundation years at 100 and 200 levels common with other Engineering Programmes in the School.

• Workshop practice, laboratory works and tutorials.

• Students of the Mechanical/Production Engineering Programme are exposed to industrial training at different levels of their course of study. At the end of 200 level, students undergo SIWES I (Student industrial work experience I). At the end of 300 level, students undergo SIWES II (Student industrial work experience) and finally at the end of first semester in the 400 level, Students are seconded to industries for a six months of industrial attachment, tagged IT.

• Design projects with bias towards local applications.

• Broad based engineering courses and interaction between students and professionals in industry and government.

• Project in the final year on which the student works independently under supervision.

• Special skills and in depth study in a particular area of the program through optional courses or electives.

viii.Adequate knowledge in the areas of engineering management, economics and law.

The objectives of the Programme are:

i. To produce graduates with high academic standard coupled with adequate practical experience that would enable him/her to meet the challenges of a developing economy and sufficiently tackle common day-to-day engineering problems.

ii. To produce graduates with broad-based knowledge in general studies, management and humanities, all of which enhance their understanding, contribution and relevance to the society.

The specialized disciplines of the Mechanical/Production Engineering Programme are Production Engineering, Power and Process Engineering and Farm Machinery Engineering.

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission is open to O-level candidates with five credits in subjects including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and English Language in SSCE, NECO, GCE O-level, or equivalent. They are admitted into the 100 level of the 5-year degree programme. Such Candidates must also satisfy the university's UME cut-off mark for their respective year.

ATBU operates a remedial studies Programme which allows Candidates with deficiencies to remedy them before seeking an admission.

Admission to Part II is possible for candidates who, in addition to meeting the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology General Admission Requirement have good grades at advanced level of the GCE (or equivalent) in Physics, Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics (or Physics, Chemistry, Pure and Applied Mathematics); or approved equivalent qualification ( such as OND upper credit in relevant field). HND holders may be admitted to Part III.

100 level is spent studying Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and GNS courses. The students are screened into 200-level subject to not haven failed more than specified credit units, currently 8 units.

200 level courses are general to most Engineering students and include courses such as Strength of materials (Civil), Applied electricity (Electrical), Mechanics of machines (Mechanical) and other common courses like Engineer in society, Workshop practice and Engineering drawing. At the end of 200-level, an 8 week SWEP is organized for the entire School.

From 300-level to 500-level, core Mechanical/Production Engineering courses are administered as contained in the Curriculum in all disciplines of Mechanical/Production Engineering.

SIWES I, an industry based programme is carried out at the end of 300-level while SIWES II (IT) is actually a 6-month Industry-based training mandatory for the entire second semester of 400-level.

At the end of 400-level, Project topics are assigned to each Student with a Supervisor. It is externally moderated and graded as a 6 units while the combined scores of SWEP, SIWES I and SIWES II (IT) are graded as IT with 8 units.

Undergraduate students pursue the same programme of study that will enable the student to qualify as a mechanical engineer, up to the end of the fourth year before branching out for one year of further in-dept study in a chosen area of specialisation as electives courses are provided in the Curriculum.

Specialisation options currently offered in the Mechanical/Production Engineering Programme are; Production Engineering, Power and Process Engineering and Farm Machinery Engineering.

Industrial visits are organized from 300-level upwards to Industries all over the country, like Abuja , Ajaokuta, etc.