NOUN Vice-Chancellor Highlights Potential of Micro-Credentials at Workshop

The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olufemi Peters, underscored the potential of micro-credentials (MCs) to transform education and expand access during the Opening Ceremony of a two-day workshop titled "Creating Micro-Credentials in Open and Distance Learning Praxis." The workshop took place from August 27-28, 2024, at NOUN's headquarters in Abuja.

Addressing the attendees, Professor Peters emphasized that micro-credentialing represents the future of education, particularly in the context of Open and Distance Learning (ODL). He noted that adopting micro-credentials could address the increasing demand for specific skills and align educational offerings with current employment needs.

"Embracing Micro-Credentials," Peters stated, "we have the power to make learning more accessible, relevant, and impactful than ever before." He highlighted that while there is significant potential for integrating micro-credentials into the Nigerian education system, especially within ODL institutions, a tailored policy framework is essential.

The Vice-Chancellor called for support from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Open, Distance and e-Learning Association of Nigeria (ODeLAN) to establish national and regional frameworks for micro-credentials. He urged for a deeper understanding of quality assurance needs specific to ODL institutions and hoped that the workshop would lay the groundwork for such frameworks.

In her welcome remarks, Professor Christine Ofulue, Director of the Regional Training Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL), explained that the workshop was designed to explore and develop micro-credentials in the context of NOUN and broader ODL practices. She highlighted the workshop's objectives, which included sensitizing participants on micro-credentials for professional development, providing hands-on experience in their design, and aligning them with industry needs.

The workshop featured presentations on various topics, including "Trends and Issues in ODL in the Context of Nigeria/West Africa" by Professor Francis Egbokhare and "Trends and Issues in International ODL" by Professor Paul Prinsloo. It also included sessions on micro-credentials by Professor Christine Ofulue and Mr. Felix K. Olakulehin.

Participants included key NOUN figures such as Registrar Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, University Librarian Dr. Angela Okpala, and Deputy Director of RETRIDOL Professor Dorothy Ofoha. The event provided a platform for exploring and developing strategies to enhance NOUN's ODL system through micro-credentials.