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This research work is aimed at assessing the research capacity of chemical engineering departments in selected Nigeria Universities. Thirty-three universities were selected for the survey based on the criteria of running accredited chemical engineering programs. A framework designed to measure specific KPIs or dimensions was developed and adapted to a questionnaire. The 37- item questionnaire was administered to students online with responses downloaded from the web portal for cleaning, coding and analysis using Microsoft excel software program. The coded responses were analyzed using percentages, mean, variance, and ANOVA. 56 out of the 60 responses received were found to be valid. The responses received were grouped into undergraduate and postgraduate respondents. The administered questionnaires had high internal consistencies with Cronbach alpha values of 0.8898, 0.8525 and 0.8994 for all, undergraduate and postgraduate responses. The responses were analyzed using three key performance indicators (KPIs) namely: (a) research infrastructure, dissemination, (b) knowledge translation and research applicability and (c) empowerment, skills, and confidence. The means for research infrastructure range from 3.6607 to 4.0714, 3.6176 to 3.8529 and 3.7273 to 4.5455 for all, undergraduate and postgraduate respondents respectively. Quite a number of the undergraduate respondents are neutral with respect to each dimension of the research infrastructure while the postgraduate respondent’s perception is that achieving peer recognition is not a motivation for conducting research. On average, the respondents agree with all the dimensions for knowledge translation and research applicability. The empowerment, skills, and confidence mean values range from 3.4643 to 4.2500, 3.2353 to 4.1765 and 3.7727 to 4.4091 for all, undergraduate and postgraduate respondents respectively. These imply that, on average, the undergraduate and postgraduate respondents view of this KPI differ.

In this paper, the mechanical and thermal properties of a sand-clay ceramic with additives coal bottom ash (CBA) waste from incinerator coal power plant are investigated to develop an alternative material for thermal energy storage (TES). Ceramic balls are developed at 1000˚C and 1060˚C using sintering or firing method. The obtained ceramics were compressed with a compression machine and thermally analyse using Decagon devise KD2 Pro thermal analyser. A muffle furnace was also used for thermal cycling at 610˚C. It was found that the CBA increased the porosity, which resulted in the increase of the axial tensile strength reaching 3.5 MPa for sand-clay and ash ceramic. The ceramic balls with the required tensile strength for TES were selected. Their volumetric heat capacity, and thermal conductivity range respectively from 2.4075 MJ•m −3 •˚C −1 to 3.426 MJ•m −3 •˚C −1 and their thermal conductivity from 0.331 Wm −1 •K −1 , to 1.014 Wm −1 •K −1 depending on sand origin, size and firing temperature. The selected formulas have good thermal stability because the most fragile specimens after 60 thermal cycles did not present any cracks. These properties allow envisioning the use of the ceramic balls developed as filler material for thermocline thermal energy storage (structured beds) in Concentrating Solar Power plants. And for other applications like solar cooker and solar dryer.

All learning activities are geared towards not what the teacher is going to teach, but what the outcome of that teaching should be, what the learner is supposed to do, and at what level. Education plays a main role in shaping the learner to be a better, responsible citizen and an active member of the society. It provides the ladder for achieving success in life as well as constructive utilization of acquired skills and knowledge. Critical thinking should be taught in schools so that students may learn to think for themselves and make their own choices, as well as to prepare them for the difficulties of adult life and to help them live a full and happy life that includes critical thinking. The instructor is at the core of traditional education, which does not foster inventiveness or originality. Critical thinking approach will erase traditional teaching deficiencies and will breed professional competence, cognitive transformation, and self-confidence. Various strategies that can foster the development of critical thinking across disciplines in education have been explored by researchers recently, and despite the acknowledged importance, critical thinking skills are frequently not taught explicitly; teachers are not intentional in the teaching and learning process, the assumption being that students will learn from the implicit values buried deep within our teaching philosophies. It is essential that teachers understand critical thinking processes and employ instructional activities to build these processes to teach critical thinking abilities. Researching critical thinking is a continuous process since it is a contentious and extensive topic in terms of definition and progress. Keywords: Critical thinking skills; Teacher-centered; Strategies; Cognitive transformation.

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This paper addresses industry sector like concentrating solar power (CSP) plant used for electricity generation. Up till now, this technology is not affordable for developing countries where CSP potential is good. To contribute on the improvement of CSP technology, ceramic balls using sand clay and industry waste (coal bottom ash) have been developed for sensible heat storage. In this paper, the one dimensional two phase model has been chosen to predict the behaviour of the ceramic oil and vegetal oil (Jatropha curcas oil) thermal energy storage system. The results show that high porosity (> 45%), filler material with big size and high fluid velocity are not required for thermal energy storage because of the degradation of the thermocline. Taking into account a tank ratio H/D of 2.5 and a total stored energy of the results show a possibility to reach a discharge time of 9 hours with discharge efficiency of more than 90%. The thermocline thickness variation under the variation of fluid velocity, particle diameter, tank porosity shows that for an effective thermal energy storage system, the thermocline maximal thickness is around one third of the packed-bed height. To conclude, the developed ceramic ball and Jatropha curcas oil could be considered as an innovative and cost-effective for thermal energy storage in CSP or other applications like solar cooker.