Strengthening Universities’ Education for the Fourth Industrial Revolution through Lifelong and Life-Wide Learning

Abstract

The concept of new technologies falls within the content of lifelong and life-wide learning. The study investigated the role of lifelong and life-wide learning in strengthening universities’ education in Nigeria for the fourth industrial revolution (4ir).  Correlation research design was adopted. The sample consisted 1770 students of National Open University of Nigeria from the three study centres in Lagos State Nigeria. Five research questions and two research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Data was collected using ‘strengthening universities education through lifelong and life-wide learning for the fourth industrial revolution Questionnaire (SUELL4IRQ}. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while ANOVA and Chi-Square were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result obtained from the study showed that; the Nigeria universities education are prepared for the fourth industrial revolution. There was poor perception of the relevance of the universities’ curriculum in meeting the needs and aspirations of the students and the nation for the 4ir. Findings further revealed that life-wide learning is suitable and flexible in empowering individual student to acquire all the knowledge and skills needed for the 4ir.  The study concluded that lifelong and life-wide learning are the keys that give access to the 4ir.  Recommendations were proffered that students should be encouraged to be lifelong and life-wide learners to develop the capabilities needed in ever changing world

Keywords: Lifelong, Life-wide, Universities, Education, Curriculum and Fourth industrial revolution.