Introduction
Generally, the concept of academic planning is derived from the National Universities Commission (NUC) which has put in place well-developed guidelines and parameters as well as Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) to guide and facilitate academic planning process for ensuring quality in the university system. Academic planning became an important unit in university administration following the numerous challenges that universities have been facing in the last few decades. These include but not limited to paucity of funds, facilities, manpower, increasing demand for university education, falling standard of education and cultism. As planning is generally an important aspect of management, Academic Planning was widely adopted to find solutions to the problems listed above and others not mentioned. In the light of this, Adebayo and Adeoye (2012) have averred that Academic Planning is the laboratory that works with other sub units of the university system to bring about the desired transformation. The importance of Academic Planning in the university system was aptly underscored by Mrs. A.O. Adebayo who was Chairperson of Committee of Directors of Academic Planning (CODAPNU) in 2008. In her own words, “It is a corporate engagement that must be accorded its rightful place for Nigerian universities to make remarkable progress.”
The Academic Planning Unit (APU) of the Rivers State University was established in 2003 when Prof. S.C. Achinehwu was the Vice-Chancellor. APU is a unit under the Vice Chancellor’s office as required by NUC. The following persons have served as Directors, Dr. Solomon A. Braide (Ag) (2003-2007), Prof. Emmanuel N. Amadi (2008-2009), Prof. (Mrs) Maureen N. Koko (2009-2015), Prof. Seth Accra-Jaja (2015 – 2016), Prof. Nnamdi S. Okoroma (2016 – 2020), Prof. P. N. Ede (2020-date).
