Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in Osun State has produced three first-class graduates using applying online learning management systems (LMS) through its partnership with EduTech, a company that developments technology for education. The three outstanding students acquired a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
In business since 2012, EduTech has worked to bridge the gap between demand for and access to quality education by decentralising the traditional brick and mortar method of learning. The firm works with progressive-minded universities to digitise their on-campus learning experience and provide an exceptional remote learning experience for their students leading to increased value for all stakeholders.
Femi Shonubi, acting general manager, EduTech, said this feat shows the company’s e-learning platform provides students with an efficient system leading to the award of a degree.
With over 1.8million applicants in the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and about 600,000 available physical spaces in Nigerian universities, carrying capacity of Nigerian public universities continue to shrink as the number young people seeking tertiary education increases.
“Our campuses here have big lecture rooms full of students where, only those seated at the front actually hear what the lecturer says while others don’t. This impairs learning,” Shonubi said. “The experience is quite different when these courses are taught online as students enjoy seamless access to study materials and lectures.”
The university’s decision to partner with EduTech was borne of the need to leverage on the company’s expertise in e-learning courseware development and other ancillary facilities to fast-track Online Distant Learning (ODL) programmes.
Olabode Asubiojo, pioneer director of the programme said “EduTech has assisted in training our staff on courseware development and general upgrade of the Information Technology Unit of our Centre. Now, all a lecturer needs to do is to simply enter any of the purpose-built studios and deliver his lecture. The video recording of the lecture is then sent online to students who have subscribed.”
One of the first-class accounting degree graduates from the programme, Emiola Lateef Adeola argued that the programme was dream come true. “I work with a top accounting firm and there’s very little time to study. The courses and exams are the same with that of the physical classes and we are even taught by the same lecturers.”
The mode of study is purely online. “It is only twice in a semester you need to come to the campus to interact with lecturers as the lectures are already pre-recorded for you and you can download it from the portal. You can rewind or fast forward the content as you desire to get a better grasp of the subject,” Adeola said.
The lectures are convertible into audio format and can be listened to it in the car, as the student commutes. “I usually listen to the lectures when I travel and I contact the lecturers on any difficulty once I arrive. Courtesy of the EduTech platform on the OAU ODL, not only am I able to increase my credentials, I also got promotions at work. Now, I’m a proud awardee of a B.Sc (Accounting) degree from OAU”.
EduTech currently facilitates both undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in two universities. In OAU, the platform facilitates online-based undergraduate programmes leading to the award of Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Economics as well as Bachelor of Nursing Science degrees.
At Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), the platform facilitates the Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), BNSc Nursing, B.Sc (Economics, Public Administration and Business Administration) courses online with plans to include 10 more programmes this year. ABU students can enjoy the traditional first and second semesters (like in the conventional universities) and a third semester in which one can fast track and take the next session courses all in one year.
According to Shonubi, the firm has a plan to increase its students count from 6,000 currently to 130,000 across its partner institutions in the next five years and is looking at discussing with some financial institutions about the possibility of having access to student loans at favourable rates. EduTech is also looking at helping the students secure internship opportunities to boost their chances of employment.
STEPHEN ONYEKWELU
