By Akumbu Uche (Student Editor)
The University of Jos has again proved itself as an institution making great strides in the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a graduate student defended his thesis using Skype, a popular international video call system.
On Tuesday March 29, the University’s English Department allowed Mr. Joseph Dung who is currently studying in Alberta, Canada to defend his Master’s thesis via the Internet.
This was the first time in the University’s history that a viva has taken place across continents. In an interview with Unijos Echo, Dung, whose thesis was on Computer Linguistics commented on being the first student to undergo a Thesis Defence via Skype video.
“It was a very great privilege and honour to have been able to partake in the Viva this year within the unusual circumstances that it occurred in that I was examined externally.”
He expressed gratitude to the Head of Department, Associate Professor Isaac B. Lar and the external examiner, Professor Joseph S. Aliyu of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who were “kind enough to proceed with the suggestion of using the Skype technology to examine me about my work.”
He said this showed that the Department could be sensitive and pragmatic to peculiar needs of the students it had helped train.
Lar, who is also the Graduate Coordinator, observed that the incident was evidence of high involvement of ICT in academics in the University of Jos.
He added that this proved that academics is no longer an ivory tower but is reaching out to the wider world. He also spoke highly of Dung, describing him as an intelligent and articulate student who “convincingly defended his thesis with the zest with which he wrote.”
He disclosed that Dung was scored 72 percent for his presentation, earning him an ‘A’ grade and distinguishing him as the best student out of 19.
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls, chats, file
transfers and videoconferencing over the Internet.
