hi Seyi Festus Olatoyinbo This is a most interesting question. I have been to several universities in three different countries, and have experienced a range of attitudes by staff towards students. In the worst, here in southern England, in Surrey, you were marked down if you expressed a different point of view to any staff member. In the best two, you were encouraged to express original points of view as long as you could back up your allegations with evidence. you were not obliged to stick to the text book. As you can imagine, these two latter universities had better reputations as creativity was more in evidence and original ideas were welcomed.

However, times are changing and money is important. universities are becoming more bureaucratic and rigidity of rules in terms of who they will employ. Many staff are young and are not particularly clever or original. However, they follow procedures and are conservative in their academic opinions and need lower salaries. Therefore it takes whole teams or groups for intellectual progress to happen which is slowly. Anyone who is a maverick and thinks by herself and for herself and consequently has original ideas does not fit this new approach and is left out.

Universities will not employ me, even though i have published articles that demonstrate conclusively what causes autism and what causes schizophrenia. I have also put together a list of all human psychosocial needs and so am an original thinker. I am also as old as Methuselah and young is good while old is bad. That is, there are various forms of discrimination in universities.

While universities are dominated by white middle class Western males, things will not improve.

dear Vadim S. Gorshkov

thank you so much for your enlightened comment. you are clearly a very clever man, as you know more about the demographic makeup of what I call Western English-speaking countries than I do. You see i was under the distinct impression, having done census data analysis for the UK, that most people in this country are Western and white, and that most people in other European countries including France, Germany, as well as the USA, Canada and so on, are also Western and white. But clearly, I am mistaken, as you must know more than I, having spoken with such conviction and authority. I am so sorry that I am a fool. I must try to do better.

Have a good day.

Vadim S. Gorshkov

Valerie Saunders Thanks for your insightful and informative comment, Ma'am. Well appreciated!!!

One of the most effective ways to help students take responsibility for their learning is through goal setting. When students set goals and achieve those goals, they build self-confidence and become more willing to try again.

https://edcircuit.com/3-ways-to-teach-students-to-take-responsibility-for-learning/

Effective self-questioning can increase students' awareness and control of their thinking, which can lead to better learning. It can improve students' long-term retention of knowledge and skills, as well as their capacity to apply and transfer what they learn.

Also, kindly check:

https://independentlearningschool.com/how-to-develop-independent-learning-skills/

Manal Hadi Kanaan Many thanks Dr. for your apt contribution. Well appreciated!!!

Hi Dr.Seyi Festus Olatoyinbo,

As a n early career researcher with a few guiding senior scholars, my experience on the matter is primarily based on experience with minimal formal knowledge or training.

I believe that reasearch independence is subjective.We speak about different type of intelligence today. This may be related to our abstract thinking or our relationships. I believe that a subtype of a 'RESERACH INTELLIGENCE' exists. This may overlap with main types of intelligence but will decide the field of reserach and outcomes.

The guidance and independence for each early career resercher vary with the level of 'RESEARCH INTELLIGENCE'.

Thank you.

@ Dr. B.M. Munasinghe Thanks for your immense contribution on the subject matter. Well appreciated. Cheers!!!

Hello Dr Seyi Festus Olatoyinbo

I share a similar opinion to Dr Manal Hadi Kanaan and encourage goal setting. In addition, I am conscious to ensure there is sufficient follow-up for those so that I would review - with the trainee - on how well they have achieved those goals (or not) at an interval after that setting. For example, we might agree to review progress at 3 months after the start. That way, I find, they are more likely to keep working to achieve that target.

@ Dr. Joseph C Lee . Thanks for your unique perspective on the subject matter. Well appreciated Sir!!!