Africa's Greatest Education Developer Award Goes To Prof Karodia

Africa's leading educationist, Durban academic Professor Yusuf Karodia, says traditional approaches to higher education are becoming irrelevant in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Professor Karodia, the founder of distance learning institutions MANCOSA and REGENT Business School, was commenting at a glittering awards ceremony and banquet in Sandton, Johannesburg, after receiving the award for being voted Africa's greatest visionary in the development of higher education.

The gala presentation function was hosted by African Leadership Magazine which presents the prestigious annual African Leadership Persons of the Year Award under various categories.

Professor Karodia was nominated for the Person of the Year 2019 - Educational Development Award. This award is open to an African who has contributed to the growth of education and deepening knowledge. It is also reserved for a member of the academic world whose research or policy has contributed to shaping his or her country's economic growth and development.

Dr Ken Giami, publisher of African Leadership Magazine, said Africans have spoken with their votes by electing Professor Karodia as this Year's African Person of the Year in the Education Development category.

"Professor Karodia's towering record and visionary contributions in the development of Africa's higher education sector are most inspiring.

"At a time of deepening rot in the education system of several African states, we see in Professor Karodia a man on a mission to salvage our educational system.

"We are very pleased with his contributions as he continues to set the pace in transforming higher education across the continent," he said.

Speaking with deep humility, Professor Karodia who has epitomised African excellence during the four decades of being involved in the education sector, said he accepted the award on behalf of students, staff and graduates of Honoris United Universities as well as all educators moulding the minds of Africa's future leaders in all walks of life.

Professor Karodia said the Fourth Industrial Revolution will make much of the work that exists today obsolete over the next few decades.

"Artificial intelligence will drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution and it will eradicate from the workplace many tasks presently performed by humans. The merging of man and machine will demand the redesigning of education to meet the challenges of the future.

"The main requirement will be lifelong learning and the ability to acquire new skills quickly.

"We, therefore, need an education system that is forward-looking. This will entail training and retraining teachers, as well as redesigning education systems and curricula to allow for agility and adaptability.

"We must bring down the barriers that exist between education and the real world. Bring the working world into education a lot earlier and take education into the working world," he said.