Funmi Ogundare
The Babcock University Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning (BUCODel) said it partnered the British Council, Edutech and Techlink to conduct 179 trainings in web design, 3D animation, graphic design, full stack development, network security and advanced data analysis, among others, last year.
The Director of the Centre, Prof. Mobolanle Sotunsa, in a statement, explained that the centre received a training grant from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) during the period under review and that over 100 learners have enrolled in less than three years of securing approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to run MBA and B.Sc programmes.
She said the learners were pursuing B.Sc programmes at different levels in Accounting and Computer Science and the Master of Business Administration (MBA).
She stated that there was groundwork for course materials and resources in 10 new BSc programmes this year, including Nursing (direct entry for licensed nurses).
BUCODel’s journey from 2021 to date, Sotunsa stated, reflected notable achievements in educational expansion and increased enrolments with noteworthy contributions to ODel space in Nigeria.
“BUCODel strategic roadmap emphasises technological advancement, global collaborations and innovations, innovation-centred approach in its establishment as a hub for pioneering online education,” she noted.
Sotunsa commended the governing board, the university management, faculty, staff and other stakeholders for their support, saying that plans are underway to start certificate courses in ODeL, instructional design and content development, learner support mechanisms and fundamentals of e-learning under the BUCODel Training Institute.
The BUCODel’s director said turning the centre into a research and innovation hub solely dedicated to research in ODel and innovation was one of the lofty goals of her stewardship.
