3 days ago
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The Federal Government has been advised to develop a comprehensive national policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education which provides a framework for integrating AI into teaching, learning and research at tertiary institutions.
Olufemi Iyabode Lawanson, a Professor of Labour Economics at the University of Lagos, (UNILAG) gave the advice while delivering the 7th inaugural lecture of the university with the theme; ‘To Everything There is A Season.’
She said that it is imperative for the government to establish policies that foster innovation across the educational, industrial and political spheres of the economy and that it is also crucial for the government to safeguard workers’ rights and ensure economic stability.
“It is important for the government to ensure that all educational institutions are well equipped to cope with automation that comes with artificial intelligence as well as tailor the output of the educational institutions towards the needs of the labour market.
“This policy should outline funding infrastructure and curriculum development initiatives to support AI adoption.
She also called on the government to allocate dedicated funding for AI research and innovation projects at tertiary institutions, stressing that this will enable the tertiary institutions invest in developing AI-powered solutions, conduct cutting-edge AI research, and train the next generation of AI experts.
“The government should work with tertiary institutions to update the education curricula to include AI-related courses and programmes. This will help equip the students with the necessary technical and soft skills in areas like machine learning, data science and responsible AI development.
Lawanson also said they the government should encourage and facilitate partnerships between tertiary institutions and technology companies or AI startups, that this will allow the tertiary institutions to access the latest AI tools, expertise and real-world applications to enhance their teaching and research.
“The government should provide funding and support for tertiary institutions to build the necessary AI infrastructure, such as high-performance computing facilities, AI research labs and data centers. This will enable the institutions to effectively deploy and leverage AI technologies.
Speaking further she pointed out that by implementing these measures, the government can create an enabling environment that encourages tertiary institutions to actively embrace and integrate AI into their academic and research activities, ultimately driving innovation and preparing students for the AI-powered future.
In addition to these, according to her, the government can offer several incentives to encourage tertiary institutions to integrate AI into their curricula
“The government can provide funding for initiatives that focus on AI-enabled education such as AI-powered adaptive learning systems, AI-driven educational platforms, and AI-assisted student support services.
Lawanson further stressed that the government should highlight the importance of AI in the State and National priorities, emphasizing the need for an AI-enabled labour force to drive economic growth and competitiveness.
“This can encourage the tertiary institutions to prioritize AI integration in their curricula.
Similarly, she noted that the government should engage with the community and industry to promote the benefits of AI in education and encourage the tertiary institutions to integrate AI into their curricula, stressing that this can include public awareness campaigns, industry partnerships and community outreach programmes.
In her recommendation to faculty member in tertiary institutions, she said that they can use AI to automate routine administrative tasks like grading, scheduling and data analysis, freeing them up to focus more on direct student interaction and personalized institutions.
“They can employ AI-powered adaptive learning platforms to provide students with personalized content, feedback and support, while they maintain oversight and guide the learning process.
“The faculty members can utilize AI to present students with personalized challenges and feedback that stimulate critical thinking, but which ensure teachers are involved in facilitating discussions and guiding students to develop deeper understanding.
“They should incorporate AI-enabled tools like moderated social media groups to facilitate student discussions and interactions, while teachers actively model and teach appropriate online behaviour and social-emotional skills,” she added.
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