|
|
 |
 |
Quick Links |
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
News & Events  Highlight |
|
|
|
| |
| | Distance Education at University of Ghana to begin in electronic mode |    | | | The University of Ghana is embarking on a project to expand its distance education programme, started in 2007, by adding an electronic mode of study to the already existing print-mode.
The goal of the project is to “use ICT-based distance education to complement traditional methods of teaching and learning and to make higher education widely accessible in line with national objectives”.
The project was launched recently by the Minister of Education, Hon. Alex Tettey-Enyo, at Legon.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo acknowledged the challenges of making higher education widely accessible and cost-effective, while maintaining quality. He commended the University for pursuing ICT-based distance education which should support Government efforts to expand access to higher education.
The Minister assured the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana of his Ministry’s support. He looked forward to the project becoming a model for other tertiary institutions in the country.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. C. N. B. Tagoe, in turn acknowledged Government’s support in securing a concessionary loan of US$8,195,000 to fund the first stage of the project.
He noted that when the project was fully completed, distance education students would be able to access degree courses from 12 regional sites throughout the country, or from their homes.
The Vice-Chancellor further expressed appreciation to the Ministries of Education, Finance, and Communication, and to their Chinese partners, Tsinghua University and Tsinghua Unisplendor Corporation Ltd. (UNIS), who were executing the project.
The leader of the Chinese delegation at the launch of the project, Mr. Yong Deng, gave assurance of UNIS’ determination to execute the project professionally.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H. E. Wenzhe Yu, expressed delight at the launch of the project. He hoped that UNIS would provide a top quality job, which would further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.
Under the project, a computer laboratory and teleconferencing facility will be opened at the University’s Distance Education Centre, with the number of computers available to students in computer laboratories increased from about 2,000 to 2,500.
Further the University’s network operating centre would be modernised, thus creating an e-learning platform to integrate ICT in teaching, learning and research.
It is expected that the completion of the first phase of the project in June, 2010, will expand and bring the University’s ICT network infrastructure on the Legon campus in tune with international standards.
It is also envisaged, under the second phase of the project, among others to build the ICT capacities of the 12 regional centres of the Distance Education Department of the University, and connect them to the main Legon campus.
The University of Ghana Distance Education programme presently enrols about 4,500 students. | | | | Date Published: 24/12/2009 | | | |   |
|
|
| Related Articles |
|
|
| |
|
