The University of Uyo (UNIUYO) has enrolled the first batch of 160 students for its pilot e-learning degree programme in Economics.
Dr. Mojisola Sodeinde, the Coordinator of the federal university’s e-learning programme made the disclosure on Thursday in Uyo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
She said “this is the first of its kind in any university in Nigeria. University of Uyo leads the path in e-learning.’’
Sodeinde said “e-learning is now the viable option for Nigeria.
“Universities have very limited carrying capacity as every year, qualified candidates do not have placement in our universities.
“So, e-learning is the lifeline for deserving students to get the best education available’’, he said.
The e-learning programme coordinator said authorities of UNIUYO had met with officials of the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the minimum standard for the programme to take-off.
“The students will attend classes online, now they are doing registration and orientation will begin from Thursday through Saturday.
“During the orientation, we will expose them to their online instructors, university rules and regulations, verify their credentials, issue them ID cards and also show them the online platform.’’
Sodeinde said that online learning guaranteed coverage of all the materials required for the completion of the course.
She added that e-learning allowed the students access the current ideas on the subject matter, as well as application of ICT skills.
The coordinator said the programme was accepted by the American Council on Education (ACE), adding that it was transferable in case of any student re-locating to the US.
The cost of the programme was N200,000 per session, covering tuition fees, downloaded textbooks and audio lectures.
The Online Degree Programme Coordinator, Dr Christopher Ekong, said that the standard of the programme was higher than the conventional classroom learning.
He said “students are expected to score 50 per cent before proceeding to the next level as against 40 per cent in conventional classes.
“e-learning instills more discipline in students in terms of learning than the conventional classroom experience between lecturers and students,” Ekong said.
He said the e-learning reading materials could be downloaded into three devices; the tablets, smart phones, desktops or laptops. (NAN)
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