The world has always been in a state of continuous change. Over the past few years, the change has been tremendous, unimaginable, unquantifiable, and virtually cataclysmic. This has affected all aspects of human endeavour, including economy, politics, diplomacy, finance, banking, development, and education. For us in higher education, the change has been a mixed bag of blessings, anxiety, and uncertainties.
A bedrock of higher education and one of the major differences between face-to-face (f2f) and open distance and e- learning (ODeL) modes of teaching and learning is the delivery of instruction. ODeL has always relied on technologies for instructional delivery, beginning with the postal system of the 17th century to emerging modern-day delivery using digital technologies. Interestingly, the two worlds of f2f and ODeL seem to be merging so that sooner than later, the thin line of separation will finally be wiped out.
I am a novice in this area of technology hybridisation. I am aware, however, that adequate digital literacy skills are necessary for integrating technology into teaching and learning at all levels, whether as online, blended, hybrid, remote, or computer-based network learning.
But, the global education system appears to be moving at a snail speed, much slower than the emergence of modern technologies. While the faster world is moving at the speed of light into full digital online instructional deliveries, the ecosystem of our global higher education is neither ready to relinquish f2f nor willing to embrace hook, line and sinker the emerging technologies. Hence, we find ourselves in the vista of hybridisation.
We do not know the appropriate pathways, the relevant technologies, or even the group of 21st-century digital learners who are indeed native to the Web environment. Hence, we have global experts like Professor Somaiya Naidu of Australia, Professor Carlos Oliveira of Brazil, Professor Lexi Adams of the USA, Professor Goski Alabi of Ghana, Dr. Akanimo Odon and our very own dear Professor Yetunde Ofulue to guide and put us through or at least suggest the way forward at this 2nd International Colloquium organised by the University of Lagos Distance Learning Institute.
@ the 2nd International Colloquium on Hybridisation of Instructional Deliveries in the Emerging Global Higher Education Ecosystem organised by University of Lagos Distance Learning Institute held on Tuesday, 1st August, 2023.
DLI is blazing the trail, and the ODeL environment in Nigeria is eminently proud of what you have done by instituting this annual colloquium. I pray that even when you complete your tenure in a couple of weeks, the DLI Colloquium will grow from strength to strength. Professor Uche Udeani, we, through your hardworking, no-nonsense tigress of a VC, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, thank you immensely.
As I welcome our keynote speaker, discussants and all of you attending, both physically and online, this epoch-making colloquium, please fasten your seat belt, relax and feel comfortable with the mixed reality of a learning curve we shall experience in a few minutes.
Thank you very much, and feel free to say to yourself: to be hybridised or not to be hybridised…that is the question!
Olugbemiro Jegede
Emeritus Professor
National Open University of Nigeria
Tuesday, 1 August, 2023.
