The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, says its partnership with Astra Learning will expand access to quality education, strengthen research and administrative efficiency, and prepare learners for the demands of a knowledge-driven economy.

OAU’s vice-chancellor, Adebayo Bamire, said this in an interview on the sidelines of an academic workshop the university organised with Astra Learning in Lagos on Tuesday.

Mr Bamire said the university’s partnership with the educational technology company sought to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching, research and administrative operations.

He said, “Discussions on the partnership began early in the year, and the university moved quickly to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) because it realised the partnership’s potential to improve the institution’s overall operations.”

The vice-chancellor noted that Astra Learning was selected after engagements with other organisations because of its multidisciplinary approach, existing programme curriculum and capacity to incorporate AI into different areas of learning.

He said the partnership aligned with OAU’s ambition to remain globally competitive and respond to changes affecting students, researchers and university administrators.

According to him, the initiative will take learning beyond the traditional classroom by allowing people to undertake academic programmes from their homes, offices and other convenient locations.

Mr Bamire, however, advocated a hybrid learning arrangement, proposing that about 70 per cent of teaching should be conducted online, while 30 per cent should involve physical engagement.

The vice-chancellor confirmed that successful participants would receive OAU certificates, adding that the programme would be accessible to learners within and outside Nigeria.

Astra Learning founder and chief executive officer Jeff Bordes said the partnership was part of the company’s strategy to make quality university education more accessible without compromising academic standards.

Mr Bordes said the company was deliberately partnering with leading universities because its business model was built around maintaining the quality of degrees awarded through its e-campus platform.

“We want to make sure that whatever degree you acquire, whether a Master’s, PhD or undergraduate degree, the quality is the same, if not better,” he said.

He explained that Astra Learning, established in 2009, evolved from developing educational software to providing investment, expertise, and technological tools to help universities transform into accessible digital campuses.

Mr Bordes said the initiative would also support professionals seeking career advancement but constrained by the demands of conventional classroom learning.

On the courses available, Mr Bordes listed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in AI, a Master of Science (MSc) in AI, and an MSc in Public Health and Mass Communication, among other programmes.

The Astra Learning chief executive noted that the initiative would also retain the traditional academic curriculum while introducing workshops, masterclasses and micro-credentials to equip learners with practical AI skills.

“AI is not taking anyone’s job. What AI is doing is just removing the ladder,” he said,

On affordability, he acknowledged that the cost of accessing quality education remains a major challenge, particularly because the initiative involved bringing international experts to work alongside Nigerian academics.

Mr Bordes further called on the federal government to introduce policies that would encourage innovation, support universities and create an enabling environment for private-sector investment in Education.

Also speaking, the deputy vice-chancellor (Academics) of OAU, Adesola Aderounmu, described online learning as an important development in expanding educational opportunities for students and working professionals.

Mr Aderounmu said the platform would enable people who cannot attend physical lectures to access learning resources and acquire qualifications while managing other responsibilities.

The deputy vice-chancellor expressed confidence that the partnership would help address challenges confronting the university system, particularly by extending educational opportunities to people unable to participate in conventional classroom programmes.

The workshop brought together the academic, technical and administrative leadership of OAU and Astra Learning to align on curriculum approval, eCampus establishment and student onboarding.

(NAN)