Consortium of Ethiopian Public Universities (CEPU) held an academic conference focused on digital transformation and reshaping the future of higher education in relation to Artificial Intelligence at Capital Hotel and Spa on the 27th of July 2024.
CEPU conducted the conference in attendance of representatives from both public and private universities of the country under the theme of “Leveraging Digital Technology for Democratizing and Transforming Higher Education in Ethiopia: Prospects and Challenges in a Paradigm Shift”.
H.E. Mr. Kora Tushine, State Minister for Higher Education Development, in his opening remarks stated that the conference has come at the right time when the higher education sector embarked a number of reform and transformation steps to the vibrant, timely and inclusive ecosystem that nurture quality education to cultivate lifelong learners, critical thinkers and ethical leaders for the development of Ethiopia.
According to the State Minister, a number of initiatives have been taken so far for preparing qualified professionals and democratizing education for these demands and providing quality education in Ethiopia in the higher education in particular. He added that other similar initiatives and discussions like the CEPU conference should be organized and executed to reformulate and facilitate the realization of digital and ethical education in Ethiopia.
H.E. the State Minster mentioned lack of the state of the art in infrastructure, technological support in the teaching-learning environment and the development of teachers in using the technologies as acute challenges regarding the issue of democratizing and transforming higher education. Those challenges likely to hinder the paradigm shift of the transformation, however, can be addressed by collaborative efforts of the main actors in the society, the government and the academia, he added.
Samule Kifle (PhD), Chairperson of CEPU and the Interim President of Addis Ababa University, in his welcoming speech said that the impact of technology on access to education has been transformative, making education more accessible and democratic, flexible and personalized.
As technology advances, it is essential to ensure equitable access of education bridging the digital divide and creating inclusive learning environment for all students in Ethiopia as of key importance and part of responding to the 21st century global education system, Samuel added.
Dr. Samuel intensified that the CEPU conference was aimed to provide a critical overview of the current disposition of digital technology for democratizing and transforming education in Ethiopia by examining how Educational Artificial Intelligence (EAI) is being harnessed by creating a digitally enabled learning environment.
According to Dr. Samuel, fundamental challenges emerging from opportunities as a result of digitalization of education are immense as EAI is pretending to replace some university professions, transforming others and creating new ones where its technologies can improve teaching quality, efficiency, and professionalized learning by enhancing the overall educational experience.
Professor Abebaw Yirga and Dr. Natnael Aragaw, both from Addis Ababa University, delivered presentations on “Digital Transformation and Educational Artificial Intelligence”, applications and management systems with broad insights triggering the participants how to liaise their leadership with these dynamics in their respective intuitions in the future.
Prof. Abebaw in his presentation entitled “Digital Transformation and Higher Education: Prospects and Challenges” expressed the dynamic nature of the digital technology, the essence of applying the field in transforming higher educational, and drawbacks including change resistance that face in those institutions.
Dr. Natnael in his presentation ascribed “Educational Artificial Intelligence (EAI) Reshaping the Future of Higher Education Landscape: Prospects and Challenges in the Paradigm Shift” stated the role of AI in higher education and the importance of scholars’ literacy ahead of their learners’ competence. He also expressed the dilemma of AI in relation to plagiarism cases while scholars striving to evaluate research outputs.
The participants remarked that the conference was a key importance and deemed as of timely where cross-discipline collaboration between education and AI experts can take place in Ethiopia in the not too far distance. They also expressed their inducement that stakeholders in the higher education teaching-learning system have to be able to cope up with the dynamism of the digital transformation through regular capacity building enhancement which calls for a paradigm shift.
Abraham Girmay: Managing Editor
Andualem Aseffa: Photographer