There’s been quite a bit of buzz about Beni
American University, Africa’s most recent online
education startup, with its self-proclaimed mission
of pioneering boundless learning.
During the week, I got the brain behind this
project, Gossy Ukanwoke, to answer some
questions about the purpose of this initiative, the
issues surrounding it, and how they plan to make
it work.
Hailed in various online circles as Africa’s Mark
Zuckerberg, Gossy founded the Students Circle
Network in 2010 – an educational social network
for college and high school students where they
get access to course resources, live teacher help,
scholarship offers, study groups and many more
students services for free.
Beni American University is his latest effort, find
out more about it after right after the break.
Techloy: Aright Gossy, so tell us, what is Beni
American University all about?
Ukanwoke: Beni American University is a forward
looking African startup that is bringing quality
education to every African youth, adult or teenager
who wants to acquire a post secondary diploma or
degree.
In 2011 alone, over 500,000 students in Nigeria
who were willing and able to afford a post
secondary education were deprived because of
over crowded institutions and depreciating
infrastructure.
We’ve seen a lot of success with Students Circle
Network ( a free learning social network for
students) project. Many students from the West
African region now hope that they can gain
certificates and diplomas by taking free courses on
our network, and we decided to create Beni
American University to fill this need.
We are therefore building a 21st Century university
with strong emphasis on technology, web 2.0 and
entrepreneurship – a university that is not limited
by time, location, age, gender, race, color or belief.
Techloy: Do you not wonder if this idea hasn’t
come before it’s time, in this region?
Considering the presence of a number of
factors ranging from the dearth of tech
infrastructure and access to broadband to
society’s “university degree” stereotype and
innate suspicion of online initiatives. Will this
initiative not require massive sensitisation/
publicity/education not only online, but also
offline?
Ukanwoke: I have heard about ideas that have
come before their time, but I do not think this is
one. The time is right, the need is there, and the
enthusiasm in the market is high. We understand
the issue of infrastructure and we are working with
key partners to ensure we create a soft landing for
our students as they start to enroll. On the issue of
stereotypes, we are working on sensitization
campaigns as well as taking steps in our academic
process to address the stereotype.
Techloy: How exactly does this new form of
learning work? What is your execution model?
Ukanwoke: We are running a Hybrid System - 70%
Online, 30% offline. Our classes, Lectures,
Instructionals, Quizzes, Tests, Assignments, and
Projects will be done and assessed online via our
learning platform that is accessible via the web and
mobile. Our Midterm Examinations, Final
Examinations and Admissions Interviews, when
needed required, will be conducted offline and
face to face respectively. We are also speaking with
a few high schools across the country to be our
test centers. Our students can use their facilities to
take their final and midterm examinations.
Techloy: From the business angle, who’s
backing this and what resources are they
bringing to the table? And Financials? How
much is all this costing? Are you expecting
funding, and from what sources? Is BAU for
profit? If not, how will this venture be
sustainable and scalable going forward?
Ukanwoke: These details will be made public
when we become a public company. At this point
in time, BAU is doing non profit work but we hope
to be profitable soon. We are working towards
making this sustainable scalable – this is the
reason why we are in business in the first place.
Techloy: Do you have technology partners?
Ukanwoke: We have ongoing discussions with a
couple of global and local companies. We are in
talks with Encipher, which are almost concluded.
Techloy: What about partners in the education
sector?
Ukanwoke: We may not be able to discuss this
fully until we conclude working modalities with
these institutions. Securing institutional
partnerships are a very cumbersome and lengthy
process.
However locally, we are working with an
international/Swedish NGO that has been
educating Nigerians – women and children in the
eastern Nigeria. They are providing the
infrastructure for us to reach these people. Their
students will be transferring to BAU.
Techloy: Government/public sector
involvement?
Ukanwoke – We are hoping to reach the Ministry
of Education and the Ministry of Youth
Development and Sports. We can have extensive
discussions with them on our plans and how the
government can aid us on this journey. It is
important to note that we are not here to force
change on the system — rather we want to
introduce a quality alternative that will show that
things can change.
Techloy: What kinds of certification will you be
awarding, and how relevant are they/will they
be in the Nigerian labour market?
Ukanwoke: Prior to Bachelor Degrees, we are
starting off with Associate Degrees and other
professional certifications. An associate degree is
on the same level with the Higher National
Diploma. Via our working plan with our
educational partners, an A.D from BAU puts you
on course for a BSc from those institutions. We
are also providing professional certification that is
globally recognized and accepted by Nigerian
institutions.
Techloy: How much will this model of education
cost participants, and how does it compare to
the cost of current models?
Ukanwoke: Costs are minimal at best. We are less
expensive compared to international alternatives.
We are less expensive compared to local
alternatives (Private Universities). Our quality is on
par with some of the best institutions in the world
and that is why they are supporting the vision we
are carrying with this. Details of this in price and
numbers will be found on our web pages when
they become public.
Techloy: What are the entry requirements for
intending students?
Ukanwoke: For a start, proficiency in English
Language. Minimum of 6 credits in WASSCE or
equivalent examinations. e.g NECO . These are the
international standards when students from this
region are applying to schools in Asia, Europe and
United States. These details will be found on our
web pages as soon as we launch.
Techloy: What are your projections as to the
levels of adoption and your progress over the
next few years?
Ukanwoke: We have projected to go full scale in
the next 4-5 years. However before that, we will be
running on about 20% – 30 % of our full capacity
as an institution.
Techloy: Are there any other research based
insights on the future of Nigerian and global
education that you’d like to share at this time?
Ukanwoke: BAU is coming at the right time.
Technology is gradually taking its place in the
education sector in Nigeria. See what Google is
doing. The scramble for Africa is currently on in
this sector. Africa will mature in education in the
next 10 – 15 years in the way it is currently in
advanced economies like United States.
Degrees will have less value in a few years. It will
be more of what you know and can do and the
appropriate certifications to go with it. At this time,
a Masters degree has same value as the current
Bachelor’s degree.


http://m.facebook.com/beniamerican?id=303119706377277&_rdr

As I have said on other threads, I can't wait for when an Oyibo man will be referred to as, for instance, "Europe's Dangote".

I wonder if that day will ever be