Who We Are?

Welcome to ODEL

Welcome to the Open, Distance and e-Learning Centre, University of Port Harcourt. The vision for a distance learning Centre in the University of Port Harcourt was birthed in 2012. Since then, concerted efforts have been made to make it a reality. The singular aim was to reach Nigerians, Africans and the entire globe with affordable but quality learning aids through the use of existing technology. In order to actualize this vision, the University of Port Harcourt established collaborations with Universities outside Nigeria to participate in collaborative academic endeavours within and outside Africa. The next line of action was to embark on manpower development in ICT, liaising with other partners in the training of staff in distance education.

The African Virtual University (AVU) is one of the partners with detailed partnership responsibilities and commitments for a distance learning programme within the African continent. AVU is a Pan‐African Intergovernmental Organization established by charter with the mandate of significantly increasing access to quality higher education and training through the innovative use of information communication technologies (ICTs). A total of nineteen countries, including Nigeria, signed the Charter establishing the AVU as an Intergovernmental Organization. In 2012 University of Port Harcourt became a platinum member of the African Virtual University. In July 2012, a policy harmonization and curriculum conceptualization workshop was held by AVU in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt.

The outcome of that meeting included policy guidelines for the review of modules for the Teacher Education Program. Following that was a curriculum review and mapping workshop held in May 2013. Subject matter experts (SMEs) from the University of Port Harcourt engaged in the first phase of the review process. Content reviewed by SMEs from the University included ICT‐integrated Modules for Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, ICT Basic skills and Education Professional courses. In 2015, an agreement was signed between AVU and the University of Port Harcourt for a Multinational Project II for an Open, Distance and eLearning Professional Development (ODeLPD) Program to be delivered to University of Port Harcourt staff by AVU. This program began in September, 2015.

A cascading training was part of the activities of the Multinational Project that each institution was to organize with the support of the staff trained in the ODeL PD Program. In 2016, a Teacher Education Review Workshop scheduled for March 21st – 25th 2016, was also organized by AVU and staff of the University of Port Harcourt were part of the training. Its aim was to finalise content review and development process. In 2017, a certificate in ICT Basic Skills and ICT integration in Mathematics and Science programs was organized by the AVU. This program commenced on the 12th of June, 2017. The e‐tutors were staff of the University of Port Harcourt. The University of Port Harcourt has several contractual agreements with the AVU with respect to distance learning. Aside the ones listed above, a service contract was signed between the both parties in February 2017. On January 21, 2014 an MOU was signed for the establishment of an ODeL Centre which resulted in the present facilities in the Course Delivery room at the Centre.

The University of Port Harcourt ODeL Centre is currently located at Plot F/24 B1 Chinua Worlu Drive, Off Sanni Abacha Road, GRA III, (from the AGIP Flyover Junction), Port Harcourt, Nigeria.