The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is supporting the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) in implementing blending learning, it was announced at a COL workshop on developing a Technology-Enabled Learning (TEL) policy for the institute
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is supporting the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) in implementing blending learning, it was announced at a COL workshop on developing a Technology-Enabled Learning (TEL) policy for the institute.
Blended learning is an education programme combining traditional classroom methods, including face-to-face interaction between students and teachers, with online digital media resources.
UMI, a national centre for training, consultancy and research in administration and management, aims to use blended learning courses to provide better learning experiences.
It intends to improve staff expertise and strengthen the institute’s technology infrastructure in order to be able to use digital technologies, open educational resources and learning management systems.
The programme is expected to benefit over 3,500 students at the institute once implemented.
It follows a recent rise in popularity of a mobile and web-based learning platform in East Africa and India, which provides online agriculture courses for farmers to learn and exchange information in their local language.
These Mass Open Online Courses (MOOCs) were first introduced in East Africa in 2006 as a form of distance education and are designed to fit into existing extension systems.
Makerere University and Uganda Christian University have adopted the platform, known as m-Omulimisa in Uganda, as part of their community outreach programmes.
In 2016 25% of learners accessed MOOCs via mobile devices and in 2017 almost half of learners, attracted from across the Commonwealth, were accessing a number of courses provided online.
Professor Asha Kanwar, President and CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning, emphasised the important role of digital resources in open and distance learning, which are vital in achieving the Commonwealth’s aim of providing inclusive and equitable educational opportunities for all.
Dr Kasozi Mulidwa, UMI Director of Programmes and Student Affairs, said: “COL’s support is timely and would help our faculty to gain new technology-enabled pedagogical practices to teach our students.”
Dr Sanjaya Mishra, COL Education Specialist in eLearning, said: “The UMI has sufficient technological capacities to adopt a robust TEL policy and improve the quality of teaching and learning.
“COL’s support will help UMI to integrate technology in all its courses, thereby assisting learners to improve their learning achievements at UMI.”
