By Damiete Braide
Vice chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has said the management would continue to support open and distance education. She made this known at the second edition of the international colloquium titled “Hybridisation of Instructional Deliveries in the Emerging Global Higher Education Ecosystem,” at the Nurudeen Alao Auditorium of the Distance Learning Institute (DLI), UNILAG.
The VC recalled that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore the need for technology in higher education, “We became extremely dependent on technology and at the end of it we were left with the realisation that the future of higher education has technology in its indirect application.”
Said she: “Open distance learning is the way that we have to go. Even with face-to-face (learning), you must incorporate technology to reach the number of Nigerians that needs to be trained and it has become the currency of this century.
“We know that technology cannot replace face-to-face learning because man is a social animal and we do our best in the community, but we do know that technology will enhance the intention of reaching Nigerians that we want to reach.”
Earlier, the director of DLI, Prof. Uchenna Udeani, remarked that UNILAG was celebrating its 60th anniversary and the colloquium is the insitute’s contribution as the oldest distance institute in the Nigerian University System.
“What we are witnessing is a pivotal moment in the evolution of teaching and learning. The integration of technology and traditional pedagogical approaches is reshaping the way knowledge is imparted, acquired, and exchanged,” Udeani said, adding, “hybrid instruction combines interpersonal interaction offered by face-to-face teaching, and the flexibility and accessibility of online platforms.”
Chairman of the colloquium, Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede, said: “Adequate digital literacy skills are necessary for integrating technology into teaching and learning at all levels, whether as online, blended, hybrid, remote, or computer-based network learning.
“Bedrock of higher education and one of the major differences between face-to-face (f2f) and open distance and e-learning (ODeL) modes of teaching and learning is the delivery of instruction. ODel relied on technologies for instructional delivery, beginning with the postal system of the 17th century to emerging modern-day delivery using digital technologies.’’
According to him, “the global education system appears to be moving at a 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, the ecosystem of our global higher education is neither ready to relinquish f2f nor willing to embrace hook, line and sinker the emerging technologies. Hence, we find ourselves in the vista of hybridization.”
Prof. Som Naidu, a former President of the Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia, in his keynote address said “technology has entered higher education space and higher education is beginning to respond to that, adding, “I submit to you that as we go further, digital experience will be a big determinant in whether students chose to stay in a university or not.”
The keynote speaker called for a rethinking of the idea of education as a commodity that is delivered. He advocated for education to be regarded, as the right for all that should be accessible with openness and flexibility.
“Education is not a commodity to be delivered like you will have in a supermarket. It is the designing of a learning experience. It is a right that every individual should enjoy with openness and flexibility. Without openness and flexibility, we can never achieve the Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is inclusive and quality education for all.”
Prof. Som Naidu (Australia); Prof. Carlos Alberto Pereira de Oliveira (Brazil); Prof. Goski Alabi (Ghana); Prof. Christine Ofulue (Nigeria), and Dr. Lexi Adams (Rwanda) and Prof Alabi and Dr. Adams made virtual appearances respectively during the panel session. They spoke on different areas of the theme with their country’s experiences. Dr. Akanimo Odion, Africa Strategy Adviser to Lancaster University, United Kingdom, moderated the panel session.