UNILAG VC: We’re committed to harnessing technology to enhance learning, research

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has partnered with Coursera, the online learning platform, to promote digital education.

Speaking at the university’s 4th International Week on Tuesday, Folasade Ogunsola, UNILAG vice-chancellor, said the initiative allows students to access courses from top global institutions.

Ogunsola said the theme of this year’s event “Inclusive digital transformation and the university promise” highlights UNILAG’s commitment to harnessing technology to enhance learning and research.

The vice-chancellor said more than 500 students across two departments have already benefited, adding that the university plans to extend the programme to more departments.

“Two sessions ago, we ran a pilot program where we obtained 250 licenses to give our STEM undergraduates access to courses on Coursera,” Ogunsola said.

“Last session, it became a fully fledged programme embedded in our courses that allowed our students to enroll in world-class courses from institutions such as the University of California, San Diego, and IBM.

“We wanted this program to encourage our undergraduate students to pace their learning in tandem with our traditional curriculum to give them a competitive edge in the digital world.

“So far, this program has impacted over 500 students across 2 departments. Given the success of this pilot, we have decided to expand its operations to other departments, as we aim to keep our promise to the university to build a future-ready environment.

“We have also partnered with Universities in Europe and West Africa to obtain Software Engineering for the Green Development initiative, which began earlier this year at the University of Lagos, and they have committed to running a sustainability awareness workshop that will run parallel to the Elsevier Workshop this week. This further strengthens our drive to be a green campus.  We have the best air quality here.  We recycle and tons and pet bottles annually and clean the lagoon around us.”

Ogunsola added that an important aspect of the university’s journey has been innovation, noting that an innovation challenge will encourage students to apply their creativity, curiosity and critical thinking skills to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems in ways that move the nation closer to sustainable development.

On his part, Chris Maiyaki, the acting executive secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), lauded the efforts of the institution’s management.

Maiyaki said higher education institutions must continue to adapt to technological advancements and ensure inclusivity in the process.

“This resonates deeply with the NUC’s vision of ensuring that Nigerian universities are positioned as dynamic centres of innovation and
knowledge dissemination in the digital age,” Maiyaki said.

“Hence, the NUC is fully committed to fostering policies and practices that align with the expansion of digital capacities within our
universities.

“I acknowledge the continued efforts of the Vice-Chancellor to build the most innovative and entrepreneurial university, towards fostering curious minds and producing discoveries that will have both local and global impact.

“By providing a space for critical dialogue and showcasing innovations, UNILAG’s International Week serves as a bridge linking academia with industry and policy stakeholders. It paves the way for new partnerships that will propel our universities and nation into a digitally empowered future.”

Mustapha Abdullahi, director-general of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, said the organisation is committed to working with the university towards achieving the objectives of promoting sustainable energy development in Nigeria which is the transformation.