The African Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL) has been described as a world class community that offers an intellectual experience which provides unparalleled access and diversity, Centre director prof. Grace Jokthan has said.
Prof. Jokthan stated this during a welcome address at the 4th ACETEL virtual orientation programme for its new postgraduate students in Artificial intelligence, Management information system and cyber security commencing the 2022_2 academic sessions.
The director added that the Centre as a world class learning environment is offering a find blend of both international advisory board and the sectoral partners which takes care of activities at the private sector level. These organizations according to the director make input in the running of the Centre.
“The Centre as a world class learning community is offering an intellectual experience which also provides unparalleled access and diversity. The Centre is being coordinated by an international advisory board, and also the sectoral board that takes care of activities at the private sector level. These organisations make input in the running of the Centre.
“We also have facilitators across the world and students across Africa, but mostly at the west African sub region, which means you will be interacting with students from Ghana, Gambia, Uganda, Cameroon and other west African countries. This will increase your diversity at the Centre. You will also be having access to virtual interactivity with students across this region. So, we are encouraging you to take full advantage of what this diversity brings, and be able to up your game as you study at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)”.
The Centre director also boast of the Centre having enough faculty and resource to run all the programmes offered at the Centre in order for the students to have a robust academic experience.
“In terms of intellectual experience, you will be having faculty that are here in the department of computer science in the faculty of science. You will also have facilitators and supervisors all over the world.
“It is important for you to note that in terms of supervision, experience for practical is highly rated in this Centre. So you will also be expected to undertake an industrial experience as an internship opportunity for all students. This will form part of your supervisory team, particularly at the Ph.D level.
Jokthan also avail to the newly oriented students’ opportunities available at the Centre while studying. She noted learning visit to other countries and universities as well as visiting the Centre in Abuja Nigeria. Others are; students exchange programmes, access to attending of workshops and conferences at both national and international levels, as well as an opportunity for scholarship among others.
The director also noted the availability at the Centre, a dedicated student’s councilor and a 24hrs a day help lines to attend to all queries of students
Jokthan used the opportunity to draw attention of the students to a variety of short courses being offered at the Centre. The director said it is “designed to beef up your skill and your professional capabilities”.
In a welcome remark, Vice-Chancellor NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters has assured the students at ACETEL that the Centre is a world bank, Association of African Universities and Nigeria’s National University Commission assisted Centre which provides an excellent learning experience.
Prof. peters drew attention of the newly admitted students on the disruption of global status quo occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic hence the need by most learning institutions and organisations around the world to gradually migrate to the usage of digital tools for education and service delivery.
“The important thing that has happened to the world now is the presence of the COVID 19 pandemic that has ravage the world in all facets. Rising up to the challenge posed by this pandemic is, most instructional deliveries now are gearing towards ICT delivery.
“In addition, there is also the growing need of more hi-tech programmes such artificial intelligence, management information system and cyber security. NOUN today has taken up the gullet in meeting up with the societies needs in running these programmes”.
The Vice-Chancellor assured the students of studying in an excellent open and distance learning institution with wonderful state of the art learning facilities and technologies.
A total of 49 students were admitted.
The 5-day orientation programme featured different presentations on the following: Learning in an Open and Distance institution, Students learning environment, Students results verification, project supervision and internship, Briefs on the various programmes, the role of ACETEL administrative unit, Academic calendar, examination and assessments as well as students counselling and the role of the student counselor.