Vice-chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Prof. Kabiru Bala, has advocated for the development of clear guidelines to govern the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education.
Bala stated this in Abuja yesterday at the National Dialogue on Consensus Framework towards Policy/Guidelines Roadmap for Nigerian Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
The dialogue was organised under the Vice Chancellor’s Rotating Presidency of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE), which operates under the auspices of the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation (UNESCO-ICHEI).
He said the theme has been conceived in recognition of AI’s advancements in reshaping various facets of society, including the landscape of higher education.
“The impact of AI is expected to continue to manifest in the quality of teaching, learning and research activities within our higher education eco-system and in the future workplace.
“This fact has become even more pertinent with the advent of such AI technologies like generative AI and its disruptive impact in higher education in the post-COVID world.
“As such, it has become important that capacity is built within policymaking structures to understand better AI, its possibilities, limitations and risks to create interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral platforms for discussions on AI issues and actively engage a wide range of stakeholders,” he said.
He also urged the participants to brainstorm, learn new ideas, and come up with practical solutions. He recommended that the Federal Ministry of Education and all other relevant authorities effectively use the dialogue’s outcome in shaping future policy on how best to moderate the inevitable application of AI in the Nigerian higher education landscape.
