A group photograph of participants after the opening ceremony

The Department of Distance Education, within the School of Continuing and Distance Education, College of Education, recently hosted a two-day blended international conference on the theme: "Embracing the Future: The Emergence of AI and its Impact on Open Distance and E-Learning" (ODEL). The conference, which took place from September 24-25, 2024, saw both virtual and in-person participation, drawing researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the globe.

Professor Amponsah, Head, Department of Distance Education

In his welcome address, Professor Samuel Amponsah, Head, Department of Distance Education, explained that the conference aimed to promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, and networking among key stakeholders. He expressed optimism that the discussions would drive impactful research on AI and ODeL, in line with priority 2 of the University of Ghana's Strategic Plan 2024-2029, which focuses on impactful research. Professor Amponsah extended his appreciation to participants, both virtual and in-person, speakers, as well as the organising committee.

Professor Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, Provost of the College of Education

The Chairman of the conference, Professor Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, Provost of the College of Education, commended the organisers for their efforts.  He pointed out that the conference was in line with the College’s vision for impactful research and highlighted the College's ongoing pursuit of research excellence.  Reflecting on the College’s first-ever Maiden Pen Ceremony, which celebrated faculty members appointed to the rank of Associate Professor, Professor Codjoe urged the entire faculty to continue striving for excellence in research. He encouraged faculty members to focus on producing high-quality, impactful research that could further elevate the College’s reputation.

A cross section of participants

The Provost also provided updates on several key College initiatives, including the establishment of the Legon Centre for Education, Research and Policy (LECERP) and the successful securing of two major research grants by the College. In a forward-looking announcement, he revealed plans to introduce a scholarship programme aimed at supporting PhD and Master’s students. Additionally, Prof. Codjoe hinted at exciting new postgraduate opportunities arising from collaborations with the MasterCard Foundation and a potential partnership with a university in Hong Kong, aimed at funding and supporting students. Looking ahead, he was optimistic about future conferences in the College and encouraged faculty to present their research in such settings for publication.

Professor Olivia Kwapong, Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education

Speaking at the conference, Professor Olivia Kwapong, Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education, also commended organisers of the conference, expressing pride in the Department’s initiative. She highlighted other ongoing projects within the School, notably the construction of a Digital Youth Village. “This project stemmed from a discussion with the former Finance Minister, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, during one of the Annual New Year School and Conference where I proposed the idea of a facility to train the youth in digital skills, and the positive response led to the ongoing construction of the Digital Youth Village,” she remarked. 

Additionally, Professor Kwapong suggested rebranding the College of Education to include “Science and Technology” to reflect the College’s technology-driven focus. She encouraged faculty members to embrace the opportunities for further growth and innovation presented by the School and the College. 

Professor Peter Scott, CEO and President of the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL)

Delivering the keynote address virtually, Professor Peter Scott, the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL), stressed the transformative role of technology in education, particularly focusing on the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Describing Generative AI (GenAI) as a powerful yet complex tool, Professor Scott remarked that it was a “beast” that educators must learn to train and control for effective use in the classroom. He explained that while AI presents exciting opportunities for both teachers and learners, its true potential can only be unlocked through deliberate efforts to integrate it into education systems.

Professor Scott urged educational stakeholders, including institutions and policymakers, to "upscale and rescale" their skills and knowledge in AI integration. He further spoke about the need for proactive adaptation in the face of AI's rapid development, pointing out that such measures are essential for ensuring that AI enhances the learning experience and supports open education worldwide.

Professor Tayo Oladiran Arulogun, Vice Chancellor of the Miva Open University in Nigeria

Other distinguished speakers included Professor Tayo Oladiran Arulogun, Vice Chancellor of Miva Open University in Nigeria, who delivered a virtual address highlighting the potential of AI in education, particularly in curriculum design, assessment and learning management systems. He stressed that AI enhances rather than replaces the role of educators, making education more personalised, accessible, scalable and inclusive, especially in the ODEL space.

Professor Michael Thomas, Director of the Life Institute, Liverpool John Moores University

Professor Michael Thomas, Director of the Life Institute, also addressed the conference on the second day, reiterating the importance of decolonising educational traditions and integrating ethics into AI.  He highlighted the revolutionary power of digital education in addressing many of the social problems confronting society. Professor Thomas called for feminism to play a role in AI development and for educational stakeholders to address the social issues that underpin the use of AI. 

A participant presenting her group’s work

A panel discussion featuring experts from the University of South Africa (UNISA), Miva Open University, Commonwealth of Learning and Friedrich Schiller University Jena provided further insights into AI’s role in ODEL. Topics discussed ranged from leveraging AI tools to enhance learner engagement, to addressing inequalities in AI adoption and ethical concerns related to AI integration in higher education.

Participants reflected on the conference, calling for more conferences of this kind to support early career researchers. The conference concluded with the presentation of certificates to in-person presenters and citations to the Provost, Dean and College Registrar. This was followed by a presentation of gifts between the Department of Distance Education and Dr. Suzanne Tiemann from Park University, USA.

In his closing remarks, Professor Codjoe, announced plans to consolidate all departmental and school conferences into a single College of Education Conference next year. “A committee will be established to begin work on this initiative,” he remarked.  Prof. Codjoe revealed plans to introduce a "brown bag" series for sharing ongoing projects by faculty. He expressed gratitude to the Department of Distance Education for its contributions and stressed the importance of promoting research initiatives that benefit the College and its faculty.

A group photograph of participants after the closing ceremony