Creating Learning Communities: Benefits and Challenges for Higher Education in Nigeria

Abstract

Higher education plays a great role in the growth of physical and intellectual skills of individuals so vital for national development. However, for some time now, graduates from institutions of higher learning have been found wanting not only in Nigeria but also in other countries. Many university and college graduates are deficient and inadequately prepared for work and for the tasks of citizenship especially in times of crisis. This lack of competence is partly traceable to the weakness in traditional instructional design in content and method. The emergence of learning communities as an alternative approach to higher education curricular is an innovation that is promising. This paper explores this novelty that learning communities present and advocates that higher education in Nigeria stands to benefit by adopting it.

Keywords: Curriculum innovation, competence, learning communities, mobilization