Roland Ogbonnaya
14 June 2005
Lagos — At a time when many Nigerian universities cannot take the number of students yawning for tertiary education, a number of them, whose parents have the resources have decided to go abroad for such Golden Fleece.
A large number of others who cannot muster the resources are left to sulk for their misfortune. To the ignorance of this set of students many Nigerians are acquiring foreign universities degrees while in the country and spend less of what those who made to, say United Kingdom (UK) are paying in terms of school fees and travelling expenses.
To provide students the services and facilities to study for degree programmes of some of these foreign UK universities while working in the country has been the business of Resource Development International (RDI) Nigeria office. For the past four years or there about the organization has been assisting Nigerians study in foreign partner universities in UK. As an international resource development organization, RDI works from 22 centres around the world including nigeria to support its students with programme advice, application assistance and enrolment, submission of assignments, examination preparation, optional tutorials, seminars and summer school visits to their partner universities in the UK.
Presently RDI Nigeria partner with a number of UK universities including University of Leicester, Staffordshire University, University of Sunderland and Liverpool JohnMoores University providing distance learning programmes designed to also provide the flexibility and versatility the students require with their busy schedule.
Recently RDI Nigeria organised an induction and information giving day for registered and prospecting Nigerian students in their Ikoyi, Lagos office. Speaking to THISDAY at the occasion, the Dr. Fakunle Odifa, the director of the organisation said the induction and information day is time to give the students information on his organisation and the partner universities. Such information include how to make inquiries to the universities, registration formalities, how to submit assignments and class works, how to seat for examination and whether such degrees and certificates awarded are recognised and if they are different from what those who are on campus are awarded also. Answers to some of these questions were also provided to the students at the induction day by Odifa.
Currently, Odifa said that the organisation has about 100 students studying for various degree, certificate and diploma programmes in the partner universities through distance learning particularly in the area of management. The organisation also assist students who would want to go abroad to do some of these programmes.
He however described distance, open, or flexible learning as an alternative study method where a student follow identical programmes to campus and classroom based courses. The flexibility in distance learning, Odifa added can relate to the time, place or speed of learning and usually all these factors are under the control of the student.
"RDI is a leading provider of accredited distance learning to individuals and organisations. We partner with universities and professional bodies to provide programmes in management, business, supply chain management, sales ad marketing, finance and information technology (IT).
"At RDI, we provide you with professionally activity based, learning materials that are normally in text format. The materials are developed specifically to provide sequential learning with continual access to self assessment and task based progress measurement," Odifa further explained to THISDAY.
He said the students are supported to expert tutors who either come into the country or through phone, fax, post, e-mail and online via the Virtual Campus. In addition, through the organisation large number of distance learners is increasingly networked with each other to help advice and support each other.
Odifa identified the benefit of distance learning to include:
Flexibility and allows you to choose when to begin and select the best time to study to suit your circumstances;
It also provides you the flexibility to remain in full-time employment. You can continue to earn while you learn;
You can study when and where it suites you best and you do not need to attend time table lectures or tutorials;
As a distance learning student, you will be registered as a student of your chosen university or institute and enjoy the same status, privileges, benefits and final awards as full time students.
Given the huge and financial investment of studying for an MBA, Odifa said it is crucial that a student consider carefully the choice of institution, adding that there are lists of "top" MBA degrees, which are based on some times unreliable criteria. He said the association of MBAs (AMBA) can be trusted only to accredit good business schools because their accreditation is based on visits during which rigorous assessments are carried out.
For example, the University of Leicester Management Centre, Odifa stressed is AMBA accredited for both full time and its distance learning modes of study, adding that AMBA accreditation only applies to one third of UK business schools.
According to RDI, the University of Leicester Management Centre has been providing management education since 1990, longer than many other UK universities, and it has proved immensely popular with students all over the world. As well as offering both full time and distance learning and distance learning MBA programmes, Odifa said the Centre also offers an undergraduate programme for campus-based students.
For fees hovering around three to four thousand pounds students can settle their school fees which also cover for text books and other study materials. Students are given their learning materials and text books at the beginning of each module of the chosen course. They are purpose-written and designed and have been developed against high quality criteria laid down by the relevant university or institution.
The books and learning materials will take the student through the subject just as lectures would as well as give a ready-made reference that the student can use like text books. "You never miss out on any part of the course, don't have to struggle to take notes as a lecturer speaks and can keep going over same section of work until it is fully understood.
"You'll also have regular self-checking exercises in the learning materials to help you to gauge your progress and build confidence, and exam-style assignments for you to send to your tutor," RDI told THISDAY.
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