Open Universities Must Adapt to Diverse Learner Needs

During her 38th inaugural lecture titled "Break Barriers: A Plan to Expand the Frontier of Open University Delivery," Prof. Obhajaji Juliet Inegbedion, a senior lecturer at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), highlighted the necessity for open universities to consider diverse learner profiles and adapt their pedagogical approaches accordingly.

She addressed barriers to open education, advocating for comprehensive plans that cater to varied learner needs. Inegbedion pointed out the different types of open education, including open courses and open science, and stressed the importance of emotional language in overcoming learning challenges.

She called for a distinction between open and distance education to avoid policy misalignment. Inegbedion proposed a roadmap for policy reform, including the establishment of regulatory bodies to differentiate open universities from distance universities.

She urged that the educational system must be rethought and redesigned to fulfill the mandates of the 21st century, ensuring flexible learning pathways regardless of gender, location, or socio-economic background.