Prominent scholars and higher education professionals from across the world recently gathered at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to discuss the transformative potential of open and distance learning, especially in the technology-driven era of the fourth industrial revolution.
Speakers at the second international colloquium, held by the Distance Learning Institute (DLI) of the institution and themed: ’Hybridisation of instructional deliveries in the emerging global higher education ecosystem, “Encouraged universities to embrace the open and distance learning system.”
Former Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof Olugbemiro Jegede, who chaired the event, underscored the imperativeness of keying into digital technology for the provision of higher education services.
Jegede identified the mode of instruction delivery as one of the major differences between face-to-face (f2f) and open distance and e-learning (ODeL), and submitted that the dividing line would soon be non-existent.
He appealed to universities in Nigeria to embrace open distance education by investing resources in technology and personnel training required for it. He lamented that the global education system appeared to be moving at snail speed, much slower than the emergence of modern technologies.
“While the faster world is moving at the speed of light into fully digital online instructional deliveries and the ecosystem of our global higher education is neither ready to relinquish f2f nor willing to embrace hook, line and sinker the emerging technologies.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Folashade Ogunsola, acknowledged the potential of technology in reshaping the education landscape and promoting lifelong learning.
Ogunsola reminded that knowledge is the currency of the 21st century, noting that there would be no development without human capital.
She said: “At the university level, only about 25 per cent of applicants would be absorbed. NOUN has the largest enrollment at over 500,000. The present campus system would not solve the problem. Going forward, it is clear we must embrace new strategies and technology if we are to meet our obligation and actualise the development required to make our country comfortable for all.” She disclosed that the institution recently provided licenses for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to improve staff learning and certifications.