THE National Universities Commission (NUC) has urged universities in Nigeria to integrate technology into teaching and learning in the post-COVID-19 era.
The acting executive secretary of NUC, Mr Chris Maiyaki, made the call in Abuja at the annual conference of the Forum for Innovation in African Universities (FIAU), with the theme: ‘Strengthening Africa’s Higher Education in a post-COVID-19 world.’
Maiyaki stated that by harnessing the power of innovation, the institutions can foster sustainable university-industry partnerships beyond traditional boundaries.
He called on African universities to recognise the value of worldwide partnerships to address constraints and provide students with the skills needed for employment.
He said that by embracing international collaborations, the universities could tap into a wealth of expertise, resources, and opportunities for their students and faculties.
While noting that there is a challenge of resource constraint being faced by universities across Africa, he asked the institutions to acquire strategic partnerships.
“Collaboration with governments, private sector entities, philanthropic organisation, and international development agencies is crucial in pooling resources, sharing expertise, and creating sustainable funding models,” he said.
The NUC boss noted that the commission championed the development of guidelines for the implementation of Transnational Education (TNE) in Nigeria for the purpose of partnering with other institutions abroad.
Speaking further he said, “These partnerships will allow us to align our curricula with the evolving needs of the job market, creating graduates who are not only well-versed in theory but also possess the practical skills demanded by employers.
“Furthermore, collaboration with industries will enable our universities to conduct impactful research that addresses real-world challenges that will continue to impact mankind, in order to secure tangible socio-economic development.”
He charged university academia to collectively address the challenges before it and forge a course toward a stronger and more resilient future for higher education in Africa.
According to him, to ensure that graduates of the continent are fully equipped with the required skills and knowledge to succeed in the 21st century, institutions must strive to improve and update their educational programmes in consonance with the realities of global best practice.
The permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Adejo, said there is a immence prospects for African universities to make progress in the post-Covid-19 era.
According to him, the initiative for establishing the Forum for Innovation in African Universities (FIAU), in 2019, was a direct response to the adverse effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the educational sector in Africa.
He commended FIAU for encouraging knowledge exchange and working closely with regional and global partners to pool resources to support African universities, adding that this is what the continent needs in the post-covid era to enable it to overcome the challenges it brought.
On his part, FIAU co-founder, Professor Pascal Anosike, in his remarks, said African universities had made remarkable progress in the areas of curriculum review and private sector investment, but more still needs to be done in widening access and improving employability rate.
Anosike called for the use of modern technology to support students’ learning, adding that his organisation wants to strengthen the capacity of African universities to tackle these challenges.
and then