Hnd Vs Bsc, B. Eng, Etc

To be serious, I understand you guys position. I was angered  when my elder brother was refused admission for MSc in a london university here because he holds an HND. I was angry because I know what he is worth in the academic scene. He was denied just because of nomenclature. Once HND is  re-named, they would then qualify for immediate masters degree without going through the PGD route. Nomenclature, that's the word.

Some UK universities will give you direct Msc with your HND if you have a CGPA of atleast 3.0 out of 4 points and a minimum credit load of 120. They will take it as the equivalent of a honors Degree; after all in some countries like Ireland an Advanced Diploma is higher than a bachelor's Degree and they still recognise it, while in Nigeria an Advanced Diploma is not up to a Higher National Diploma or Bachelor's Degree.

I am glad this kind of discussion is on ground. I am an undergraduate in the department of Chemical Engineering, UNILAG. I had distinction(OND) from FP, Ilaro and distinction(HND) from the former YABATECH.

My people, I want you all to know that there is a wide difference between someone who is sleeping and another who is dead completely.

What I percieve as the major difference is that in the Polytechnic,  lecturers spoil students . They go to the library, search for all relevant materials, form notes/handouts and give to students as ready-made lecture notes. Another thing I observed during my Polytechnic days is spirit with which most students take their studies. Many of them were eyeing university education thereby having divided attention. This most of the time, resulting in poor academics performance, not only in terms of exams but also in IQ.
Despite this, we must know that there are thousand of Polytechnic graduate who are one million percent better than most of the UNiversities'.

However, for speedy economic development, Polytechnic education can not lead NIgeria to anywhere. That is one of the reasons I needed to apply for UME, got my good results and consequently gained admission to my first choice couse at UNILAG.

But for time costraint, i would av continued,   See you later

Thank you "My papa's land". Everyone is aware that when you are online especially in cyber cafe, you are bound to make any kind of typing error. Howeva I thank u for your constructive contribution.

As a continuation of my previous input in this forum, I would never advise anyone to attend any Polytechnic in Nigeria. I am greatful to the GOVERNING COUNCIL of UNILAG for introducing Post Jamb. I am also glad that other universities have taken after UNILAG.

Universities are meant for good students. If you know you are academically blessed, then you are advised to go to  any of the universities around. PostJamb is here to pave ways for good students.

Just be ready to research and make impact in your selected path. IF YOU WANT GOOD FUTURE FOR YOURSELF, PLEASE DO GO TO UNIVERSITY OOOOOOOO.  And if all you want is no less than international exposure and solid academic background, then it will be better for you to attend UNILAG-ENGINEERING/LAW/EDUCATION/SCIENCES/MEDICINE/PHARMACY/ARTS/ and MANAGEMENT. Au revoir.

@HND-holder

May God help HND holders in Nigeria, because the hatred is becoming more intense by the day.

Some micro chips carrier will not work but depend on notes/handout in the University too.

Imagine that

Hey that is great what date and what page?

@HND-holder

Any latest news about HND and polytechnic education in Nigeria?

Abi government don forget the problems of polytechnics and HND holders all of a sudden?

Well said my brother. Those heading polytechnics, those making decision for/against polytechnics in nigeria are all university graduates. Until people who passed thru polytechnics (holders of HND certificate) start taking decision for polytechnics there wont be any significant progress in the polytechnics.

When we are discussing issues like this,lets be careful and avoid sentiments and analyse issues.
I am contributing as a holder of both certificate (HND and BSc certificate )in one of the best polytechnic and  university in Nigeria.
I want to say here that both certificate holder experience almost the same rigour but in a different form,we are only overblowing the Bsc certificate,look,HND or Bsc cert. is a function of what the person is made of.
There is no scientific proof to say that all polytechic graduates are dull or can not pass UME.
You can not say that all University graduates are better than HND holders.therefore,it is only the white paper establishing polytechic that is standing as a monster against them because as at the time YABATECH was to be established in 1948,little did the policy makers knew that it would hunt them,moreso polyechic discrimination never set in until 1995 when the number of graduates grew and theres need to reduce applicants by any means.
Can you remember that even few years back,some corporate bodies discriminate against state universities,so what are u talking about?
Are we saying state Universities too are inferior?
Dear nairalanders,What is the essense or a certificate holder that is not useful to the economy?yet he claims he/she is a degree holder.
Dont be deceived ,think of what you can do with the little you acquire from Poly or uni and leave the so called policy makers that does not know what they want.
The candid suggestion is that both certificate holders should be given equal chance to proof themselves either either by practicals or a test,lets avoid sheilding one certificate holder for another.
After all keen compettition bring out the best from the competitors

Please forgive me if this has already been mentioned somewhere before.

As far as I can see, your HND was very much similar to the type I did in Scotland at the start of the 1970's.
Entry qualifications was a minimum of 1 'A' level or 4 'O' levels or an 'Ond'. It was tri-semester lasting 3 years - 16 weeks industrial training was manditory during the 2 following summer seasons i.e. 3 weeks personal summer vacation per year.

I studied Hotel Management and, at that time, there were frankly no degrees in Hotel Management around with the exception of 'Surrey'. In the latter case the intake  was so small it certainly did not satisfy the needs of the entire UK!!! We too were given the impression that it was an alternative degree. At the time it was also not possible to change course mid-stream or have the HND counting towards a degree ( top-up). That is a recent development.

From the research which I did on the subject of HND/BSC , I found out that the ACADEMIC value of an HND was two thirds of a standard degree. This is why the two educational courses have always been seen to clash with each other. A degree course tended to consist of a more theoretical approach whilst the HND a 'hands-on', profession orientated one. The original thought of a university was to study a subject with no real 'job' content. If one studied linguistics, mathematics, chemistry, physics etc.etc.  there was no pure career 'training'. At bachelor level they demanded a further course e.g. teacher's certificate, to make a career out of it. Similarly with chartered qualifications. The higher you qualified at a university, the more specific the profession seemed to become. A physician or dental student  'just' learned the basics up until bachelor level and at masters or higher, he/she became more and more involved with a specific  'profession' in mind.

In Europe we have now Credit Points: 180 for first academic degree (3 years); 300 for masters (5 years) and so on . Now, a 3 year HND  course is valued at 120 academic points (2/3) of a BA. Now one may ask - what about the other training involved which is not counted?

If one wants to study mathematics at a university surely one does not start with basic arithmetic but at a level which is a continuation from 'A' Level Maths. If one studies English as a subject at university one does not start learning what a verb is but rather dissecting the language/literature etc. at a very high level. Now how is it with an OND/HND? What particular prerequisites does one have to obtain in order to follow the OND/HND course? In reality very little. A medical student may require  'A' levels in physics, chemistry, biology etc.  One cannot say that an HND is a 5 year course if an OND is just catching up with NEW subjects not based on previously learned subjects. Even the requirement of 1'A' level (not specified)  is not used for any continuation of the subject at that level. An architect student normally has to provide artistic capabilities, a musical student is expected to be able to read music and play an instrument. But that is perhaps where the real difference lies. At OND and HND levels there are generally no prerequisites required. So, with this example, we are learning a profession from scratch whilst at a university (in its original sense) should be a continuation, or development, of main subjects which one has already learned at school or has a good knowledge of.

This is what makes comparisons extremely difficult. Nowadays the NEW UNIVERSITIES are mid-stream in their teaching philosophies to the old HNDs and Degrees - a right soup of being neither one or the other. I have lived through many an education reform and sympathise with all the people who are left by the way-side as their qualifications are de-valued through new 'inventions' of up-grading!! Degree courses which start subjects from scratch e.g. optional languages (as one would learn at  junior school) are certainly not an improvement on any previous types of qualifications !!