UNICAL Receives Approval to Commence Open Distance Learning

The University Of Calabar, UNICAL has received approval to Commence Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programme.

This was conveyed in a letter dated 25th September 2023 by the National Universities Commission(NUC) to the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Florence Banku Obi.

According to the letter signed by the Director of Open Distance and e-learning, Engr. Kayode Odedina on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Commission, the Commission said the University of Calabar met all the requirements for the commencement of the Open and Distance Learning programme.

“The Commission has given approval to University of Calabar Open and Distance Learning Center to commence academic activities.

The approval is sequel to the validated status recommended by the Panel that visited the proposed Centre from 19th to 23rd July, 2023.

“The Centre may therefore commence operations with B.Sc. Management Sciences programme only via the ICT-enabled supported blended learning model of Open and Distance Learning(ODL) mode of delivery”.

The letter reads in part.

In a reaction, the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Florence Banku Obi said that the University of Calabar under her watch is not only committed to promoting academic excellence but to also taking degrees to people in their bedrooms.

Narrating how the idea of ODL in the University was conceived and finally birthed, the Director of Open and Distance Learning Centre in the University, Prof. Mbe Nja said the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi in her quest for standard and global best practices instituted an online teaching Committee for the purpose of advancing online teaching in the University.

The Vice Chancellor further directed the Committee to chart a course for the establishment of the Open and Distance Learning Centre.

The Committee worked tirelessly and after several NUC’s inspection pre-validation visits the Centre was approved by the NUC.

Prof. Nja further said that there is no difference between the degrees obtained through the ODL mode and those obtained through the regular mode as the programmes are driven by the same Lecturers, Departments, Faculties and University Senate.

The graduates of the Open and Distance Learning Centre can also go for the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps if they satisfy the age requirement.

With this approval, the University of Calabar is now a dual-mode University.

It is the second in the South South Geopolitical zone to be so licensed.