Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Osun State, is the only private university on the list of universities approved by the Nigerian Universities Commission to run the Online and Distance Learning Centres in Nigeria.
There are eleven schools on the list released by the NUC including University of Ibadan, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Lagos, Akoka, University of Maiduguri, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, University of Abuja, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Lagos State University, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Federal University of Technology, Minna.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Director, Centre for Distance Learning, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Prof. Adekunle Eludire, said that the distance learning approval was different from normal face to face education system, adding that they got an approval for Accounting (B.Sc) programme.
“NUC always do a first and second validations, it is only after these that the processes can begin. We have a learner from Maiduguri who can study with our Learning Management System. We have the facilitator who is a professor and e-tutors for the programme. We have at least 500 laptops in our resource room because the learners must come to write examination physically in the room. It took us two years to get the license.
“To get an NUC’s approval is not automatic because of the required standards, we wrote 42 course materials and this took a year. We are running just one programme for now and it is Accounting. NUC always start with one programme and you have to write course material for each.
“We have written course materials for Computer Science, Public Administration (B.Sc) and Business Administration (MBA) and we will invite NUC to visit us by the middle of this month to have a look at the ODL format,” Eludire said.
A statement by JABU said NUC conducted a Quality Assurance Assessment visit to Open and Distance Learning Institutions in the Nigerian University System.
“The distance learning was assessed from 11th to 19th July 2019 by a five member panel of experts.
“The panel members were satisfied with both the human and material resources in the institutes and left quite satisfied with the management and staff of DLI,” said the statement.