ACETEL – ACE – Africa Higher Education Centres of Excellence

February 21, 2022

ACE IN FOCUS – ACETEL

The Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL) was established in February 2019 and is located at the headquarters of the National Open Universityty of Nigeria (NOUN), Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria. The centre is one of 54 supported under the World Bank ACE Impact project, receiving support from the Association of African Universities, and National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigeria. The Centre focuses on the development of human capacity and research in digital solutions that will lead to the utilisation of technology for education and its deployment to other sectors.

The centre hopes to bridge the technical knowledge gap by building capacity in Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), Cyber Security and Digital policies to achieve high levels of digital development on the African continent.

Why is ACETEL special?

ACETEL programmes are designed to build capacity in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, and Management Information Systems courses at the postgraduate levels leading to the production of highly skilled human resource to drive the adoption and use of ICT solutions. It also offers short courses to bridge technology knowledge gaps.

Its core values are:

Specifically, the ACETEL research focuses on gaps, needs assessment of digital capacity development, solutions, and policy issues in the education and public sectors; effectiveness of green logistics information technology learning tools on students’ academic achievement in STEM-related courses; developing smart digital learning tools for science in Open and Distance Education; impact of Cybercrime on Learners’ Academic Performance and Research Data Integrity; and enhancing postgraduate learners’ research skills using cloud computing learning tools.

In 2021, 41 students gained admission into ACETEL. These students comprised of both national and regional students, 11 females and 30 males students enrolled from The Gambia, Ghana, Cameroon and Uganda.

November 29, 2021November 29, 2021

Admission to ACETEL

Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Leaming (ACETEL) is a World Bank, Association of African Universities, and Nigeria’s Nanonal Universities Commission supported centre of excellence focusing on the development of human capacity and research in solutions that will lead to the utilisation of technology for education. Domiciled at the headquarters of the National Open University of Nigeria, Jabi, Abuja, the Centre team comprises Of national and international scholars drawn from relevant fields Of science as well as and private sector stakeholders.

Application forms for 2021/2022 Academic Session are available at https://acetel.nou.edu.ng/ from 1st to 15th December 2021 in the following programmes:

MSc Artificial Intelligence
MSc Cyber Security
MSc Management Information System
Ph.D Artificial Intelligence
Ph.D Cyber Security
Ph.D Management Information

ACETEL is therefore, requesting interested and suitably qualified candidates to apply for admission into any of the above indicated postgraduate programmes. Application forms and requirements are available at www.acetel.nou.edu.ng. Interested candidates should follow the online application procedure laid down via the ACETEL Website https://acetel.nou.edu.ng/. While ACETEL offers equal opportunity for enrolment and studies to all, female members of the society are specially encouraged to apply. Scholarship is also available for eligible candidates.

APPLICATION FEE

MSc = N20,OOO
PhD = N30,OOO

December 8, 2020

Call for Application to Study PhD in Cyber Security at ACETEL

Call for Application to Study PhD in Cyber Security at the Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL), National Open University of Nigeria.

The Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL), National Open University of Nigeria, is pleased to invite qualified and interested
candidates to apply for scholarship to study PhD in Cyber Security by submitting a Research Proposal for the thesis entitled: ‘A Secure Data-Centric Architecture for Digital Learning’

Context:
The emergence of the Corona Virus (COVID 19) pandemic prompted several Universities across the world and particularly in West Africa, to switch to the digital
learning space as their mode of service delivery. Typically, a huge volume of sensitive data is generated in the course of the online interaction between lecturers and students in the digital learning space. At the core of this mode of learning, are the issues of secure data management and effective mechanisms for authentication and authorisation of endusers. This increased participation of schools in the digital learning space has given rise to the high exposure of the massive volume of sensitive data to various forms of cyberattacks. Although researchers have designed architectures for securing data in the digital learning space, yet, existing architectures have been ineffective for protecting data in this setting. Consequently, this research seeks to design and implement an effective
data-centric architecture for a digital learning system.

Supervisor: Dr Vivian Nwaocha, Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning, National Open University of Nigeria

Co-supervisor: Dr Jules Degila, African Centre of Excellence in Mathematical Sciences and Applications, University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin

Other contributors on the PhD supervision: Dr Adebukola Onashoga, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Eligibility of candidates: All the requirements for admission into PhD in Cyber Security at ACETEL

Additionally, candidates must submit an explicit Research Proposal of not more than 6,000 words highlighting the following: background, problem statement based on current related works, objectives, expected results, proposed methodology, planned activities for the duration of the PhD and references.

Duration of Scholarship: 3 years
Grant: Doctoral Programme of the ACE-Partner DSTN project, 540 euros. The DSTN Project will also sponsor internship for Masters students

The deadline for the application of the DSTN Scholarship is 31st December, 2020.

NOTE:

All Ph.D. candidates must upload the concept note of their research interest in not more than 5500 words.
ACETEL will offer scholarship to suitably qualified candidates. Please visit ACETEL website at www.acetel.nou.edu.ng for the Scholarship Application Form and further details.
Enquiries on ACETEL Programmes, Scholarship as well as the DSTN Scholarship should be forwarded to ACETEL email: acetel@noun.edu.ng or call 08123030665
For national students, application form cost N20, 000.00 and N30, 000.00 for MSc and Ph.D. programmes respectively.
For international students, application form cost $155 and $233 for MSc and Ph.D. programmes respectively

December 8, 2020

Call for Application to Masters Degrees’ at ACETEL

Introduction

The Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL) is a World Bank, Association of African Universities, and Nigeria’s National Universities Commission supported regional centre of excellence focusing on the development of human capacity and research in digital solutions that will lead to the utilisation of technology for education. The Centre aims to bridge the technology knowledge gap and achieve high levels of digital development for the African continent.

The ACETEL is domiciled at the headquarters of the National Open University of Nigeria, Jabi, Abuja. The Centre team comprises of national and international scholars drawn from relevant fields of science as well as public and private sector stakeholders. The Centre, is commencing postgraduate programmes for the 2020/2021 Academic Session in the following fields:

MSc and Ph.D Artificial Intelligence
MSc and Ph.D Cyber Security
MSc and Ph.D Management Information System

The ACETEL is therefore, requesting interested and suitably qualified candidates to apply for admission into any of the above indicated postgraduate programmes. Application forms are available at www.acetel.nou.edu.ng.

Interested candidates should follow the online application procedure laid down below:

Visit the ACETEL Website https://acetel.nou.edu.ng/
Click on Apply Now
Click on Application Portal Registration to create your account.
On successful creation of your account, you will receive an email with directions to create a password and instructions to visit Remita to generate an RRR invoice which should be used to effect payment for the application form.
After payment and obtaining the payment receipt Click on ONLINE APPLICATION FORM.
Fill in the details, upload relevant documents and submit
Acknowledgement and Admission letters will be sent via your indicated email address after your application has been processed

Admission Requirements for the Programmes are Outline Below

1. MSc. Artificial Intelligence Entry Requirements
To be admitted into the MSc. Artificial Intelligence (AI) programme, a Candidate is expected to fulfil the following requirements:

A Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of Second Class Upper in a computer related degree or Mathematics, Physics, Engineering or other degrees with
substantial mathematics content.
OR
A minimum of 3.0 at the PGD level in a computer related degree E.g. Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology.
Note: For candidates from Physics, Mathematics, Statistics and Engineering (except Computer and Electrical/ Electronics Engineering), a PGD can serve as a bridge Course to qualify for admission into MSc AI.
Candidates are expected to have taken the following background (or their equivalents) courses:
i) Algorithms, Programming, Algorithm design and analysis.
ii) Basic probability, statistics and algebra, Linear algebra and Discrete Mathematics.
In addition, candidates must possess a minimum of five credits in SSCE/GCE/NECO/NABTEB or its equivalent, at not more than two (2) sittings, in the following subjects: English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Further Mathematics.

2. MSc. Cyber Security Entry Requirements
To be admitted into the MSc. Cyber Security programme, a candidate is expected to fulfil the following minimum requirements:

A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution with a Second Class Lower in Cyber Security, Information Technology, Communication Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical/ Electronics, Mathematics, Physics, Physics Electronics, Physics with Mathematics
OR
A minimum of 3.0 from a recognised institution at the PGD level in Cyber Security, Information Technology, Computer Science, Communication
Technology, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical/ Electronics, Mathematics, Physics, Physics Electronics, Physics with Mathematics
In addition, the candidate must possess a minimum of five credits in SSCE/GCE/NECO/NABTEB or its equivalent, at not more than two (2) sittings,
in the following subjects: English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and any of the following Biology, Agricultural Science, Computer Studies or
Further Mathematics.

3. MSc. Management Information Systems Entry Requirements
To be admitted into the MSc. Management Information System, a candidate is expected to fulfil the following minimum requirements:

A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution with a minimum of Second Class Lower in Cyber Security, Information Technology, Communication
Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical/ Electronics, Mathematics, Physics, Physics Electronics, Physics with Mathematics
OR
A minimum of 3.0 from a recognised institution at the PGD level in Cyber Security, Information Technology, Computer Science, Communication Technology, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical/ Electronics, Mathematics, Physics, Physics Electronics, Physics with Mathematics
In addition, the candidate must possess a minimum of five credits in SSCE/GCE/NECO/NABTEB or its equivalent, at not more than two (2) sittings,
in the following subjects: English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and any of the following Biology, Agricultural Science, Computer Studies or
Further Mathematics.

4. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) Artificial Intelligence Entry Requirement
Candidates for Ph.D. admission must satisfy the following conditions:

Candidates must have five credit passes including English, Mathematics and two other relevant science subjects at ‘O’ Level.
Candidates with Bachelor’s degree from an approved university must obtain a minimum of second class Lower division with a CGPA of 2.5/5.0.
Candidates must have Academic Master’s degree in relevant areas with a CGPA of 4.0/5.0 and thesis score not lower than 60% (B). A Master’s degree in
Machine Learning or a closely related field will be an advantage.
All applicants are expected to be competent in programming and have a strong mathematical background.
Holders of equivalent qualification/experience specified for the course recognized by the Senate may be considered for admission

5. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) Cyber Security Entry Requirement
Candidates seeking for admission into the Ph. D. degree programme in Cyber Security must satisfy the following general and specific requirements.

Candidates must have attained a minimum of five (5) credits passes including English, Mathematics and two other relevant science subjects at
‘O’ Level at not more than two sittings.
Candidates with Bachelor’s degree from an approved university must attain a minimum of Second-Class Lower division with a CGPA of 2.5/5.0.
Candidates must have attained a Master’s degree (i.e. M.Sc., M.Tech., M. Phil,) in Cyber Security Science, Computer Science or Information Technology from National Open University of Nigeria or from any other University recognized by the Senate of National Open University of Nigeria with a CGPA of 4.0/5.0
They are expected to have attained a grade not lower than a ‘B’ grade (60%) in their thesis

6. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) Management Information Systems Entry Requirement
Candidates seeking for admission into the Ph. D. degree programme must satisfy the following general and specific requirements.

Satisfy the minimum five (5) credits requirement for admission into the postgraduate programme including English and Mathematics.
Candidates with Bachelor’s degree from an approved university must attain a minimum of Second-Class Lower division with a CGPA of 2.5/5.0
Holders of a Master degree (M.Sc., M.Tech., M.Phil, or equivalent) in Cyber Security Science/Computer Science from National Open University of Nigeria
or from any other University recognized by the Senate of National Open University of Nigeria with a minimum CGPA of 4.0 on a scale of 5.00 or weighted average of 60% or an average of performance of “B” grade.
Holders of equivalent qualification/experience specified for the course recognized by the Senate may be considered for admission.

The deadline for application and ACETEL Scholarship is 30th December, 2020.

NOTE:

ACETEL will offer scholarship to suitably qualified candidates. Please visit ACETEL website at www.acetel.nou.edu.ng for the Scholarship Application Form and further details.
Enquiries on ACETEL Programmes, Scholarship as well as the DSTN Scholarship should be forwarded to ACETEL email: acetel@noun.edu.ng or call 08123030665
For national students, application form cost N20, 000.00 and N30, 000.00 for MSc and Ph.D. programmes respectively.
For international students, application form cost $155 and $233 for MSc and Ph.D. programmes respectively