The long wait for open and distance learning scheme of the Rivers State University (RSU) seems to be here at last. A board has been inaugurated to establish the centre to run the scheme.
It is thus becoming real that the plan to transform the RSU into an e-university, e-campus system, and top three best universities in Nigeria seems to materialize.
The RSU has now taken a significant step towards expanding access to higher education with the inauguration of a governing board for its ‘Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL).’
Talks about RSU, formerly University of Science and Technology (UST), emulating most UK and US universities on access to learning from around the world got strong when they brought in CINFORES, an edutech firm that is helping them to conduct most activities online.
The long wait for open and distance learning scheme of the Rivers State University (RSU) seems to be here at last. A board has been inaugurated to establish the centre to run the scheme.
It is thus becoming real that the plan to transform the RSU into an e-university, e-campus system, and top three best universities in Nigeria seems to materialize.
The RSU has now taken a significant step towards expanding access to higher education with the inauguration of a governing board for its ‘Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL).’
Talks about RSU, formerly University of Science and Technology (UST), emulating most UK and US universities on access to learning from around the world got strong when they brought in CINFORES, an edutech firm that is helping them to conduct most activities online.
Cross section of Rivers State University top management and ODL committee members
On the other hand, ‘Distance Learning’ specifically refers to studying remotely when the teacher and student are separated by space or time.
Experts say while they are often combined into ‘Open and Distance Learning’ (ODL), they describe different aspects of non-traditional education.
Speaking during the inauguration, Isaac Zeb-Obipi, professor of management studies and Vice-Chancellor of RSU, described Open and Distance Learning as an indispensable pathway for addressing the growing demand for higher education in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the physical infrastructure and facilities available in conventional universities are insufficient to accommodate the increasing number of people seeking admission into higher education institutions.
He referred to discussions at a recent Vice-Chancellors’ Conference in Ilorin, where a presentation highlighted the widening gap between available university infrastructure and the rapidly growing demand for higher education, largely driven by Nigeria’s increasing population.
According to him, Open and Distance Learning provides an important bridge for closing this gap by enabling more people to access quality university education without necessarily being physically present on campus.
Zeb-Obipi further emphasized the critical role of technology in modern education, noting that online learning platforms have made it possible for students to participate in academic programmes and undertake examinations remotely.
The VC’s explanation seemed to agree with what Asawo Ibifuro, managing director of CINFORES Ltd, the tech firm installing and managing the university’s online transition, who told BusinessDay in an exclusive interview last month that by the bold tech steps going on at the RSU, that in the next five years, the university was going to be a fully digital university. ‘In terms of their learning, they will move from what they do traditionally to hybrid, and to a solid one in terms of their virtual learning.
‘In terms of office administration, they are putting a workflow and a document management system. So they will be fully paperless in the next five years, in all the things that they are doing.’
Ibifuro said the RSU’s revenue should triple, ‘If they continue in this trajectory because they will now have virtual courses that people will be able to do from anywhere in the world and be generating quite a lot of revenue.
‘They will not be constrained by the physical infrastructure they now have. The digital infrastructure that they are building now will be able to warehouse hundreds of thousands of students, if not millions. They will be in the mold of the likes of Harvard and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) with millions of students around the globe.’
For the RSU, the CINFORES boss went on, ‘We are expecting that most of the things done in the campus will be digitized, down to their transportation in the next five years.
‘So, in the next five years, if they continue, the University will be making massive impact on how things happen in River State. They will be able to support some of the advancements that the state would require at that particular point in time.’
The vice chancellor at the inauguration cited examples of successful online course delivery and remote examinations, including programmes where students outside Nigeria have participated effectively through technology-enabled learning systems.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the leadership and members of the ODL Centre for their commitment towards establishing the Centre, particularly in developing the necessary policies and securing Senate approval.
He also acknowledged the contributions of another professor, Blessing Jaja, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Boma Dambo, the Director of the Centre, the Deputy Director and other members of the implementation team for their dedication towards bringing the initiative to fruition.
Zeb-Obipi formally inaugurated the governing board and charged members to provide the strategic direction required to ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of Open and Distance Learning at Rivers State University.
Earlier, Boma Dambo expressed appreciation to the RSU management and other stakeholders for their support towards establishing the Centre.
Dambo disclosed that the necessary policies for the operation of the Centre had been developed and approved, adding that the institution had entered the critical stage of building the capacity of personnel who would drive the programme.
She explained that the Centre was currently training course writers, facilitators, e-tutors and other personnel required for the effective implementation of Open and Distance Learning programmes.
The Professor expressed confidence that, with the continued support of the VC and other top management leaders of the university, the Centre would achieve its objectives and contribute significantly to expanding access to higher education.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of members of the Governing Board, Jaja, the Chairman, expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor for finding them worthy to serve in the pioneering governing body of the new Centre.
Jaja described the establishment of the Open and Distance Learning Centre as a major milestone and strategic intervention by Rivers State University to address the challenges confronting higher education in Nigeria.
He assured the University Management that members of the board would work diligently to ensure that the vision and objectives of the Centre are achieved and where possible, exceeded.
He also appealed for continued institutional support required for quick and sustainable success.