Harnessing the Future: ZOU’s International Conference Unpacks the Role of ODeL, Technology, and AI in Transforming Education

The global education landscape is undergoing a monumental shift, and the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) is positioning Africa at the forefront of this revolution. Kicking off on October 6 at the Management Training Bureau in Harare, the university’s flagship International Conference on Education (ICE) is convening top academics, policymakers, and industry leaders under the assertive main theme: “Transforming Education: The Future of ODeL and Technology in Teaching and Learning.”

Far from a conventional academic summit, ICE is designed as a critical forum for global foresight, driven by ZOU’s commitment to dismantling traditional educational barriers. The conference’s strategic ambition is to move beyond simply discussing technology adoption and instead, to develop the definitive blueprints required for establishing high-quality, inclusive Open, Distance, and e-Learning (ODeL) models as the global gold standard for instruction.

ZOU Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Gundani welcomes delegates to the International Conference on Education.

In his welcome address, ZOU Vice Chancellor, Professor Paul Gundani, immediately underscored the urgency of the gathering. “We are living in an era marked by rapid digital innovation,” he stated, noting that Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and advanced digital tools are redefining how we live, work, and learn.

Professor Gundani stressed that the conference is critical at a time when education, globally and across Africa, faces both “unprecedented challenges and remarkable opportunities”. For the Zimbabwe Open University, the message is clear and decisive: “ODeL is not simply an option; it is a necessity.”

He described ODeL as a “bridge for those who might otherwise be left behind,” including working parents, marginalized groups, and those pursuing lifelong learning. The commitment to ODeL aligns directly with Zimbabwe’s national higher education framework, Education 5.0, which mandates teaching, research, community service, innovation, and industrialization.

“At Zimbabwe Open University, we see ODeL and technology as powerful enablers of this vision, broadening access, driving creativity, and equipping learners with practical skills that contribute directly to national development,” Professor Gundani affirmed.

Elevating the dialogue beyond national borders, Professor Gundani issued a powerful call for a Pan-African perspective, reminding delegates that the future of African education must be shaped by collective values and aspirations.

This vision is rooted in the philosophy of Ubuntu/Hunhu/Botho “I am because we are” which demands the design of educational systems emphasizing community, inclusivity, and shared progress. The critical challenge, he noted, is twofold:

1. The Ethical Imperative: “Will we allow technology to deepen inequalities, or will we harness it to build more inclusive and just societies?”
2. The Role of the Continent: African universities have a responsibility to not just adopt global technologies, but to “adapt and innovate them” to address unique African contexts.

“Let this conference reaffirm our shared commitment to ensuring that Africa is not merely a consumer of educational technologies, but also a creator of knowledge and solutions for the world,” the Vice Chancellor concluded, framing the conference as a crucial step toward realizing the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The conference agenda features a powerful lineup of speakers whose expertise will steer the dialogue from policy to classroom implementation. The two-day event will draw deeply from the experience of continental thought leaders:

• Dr. S. Sifiso Ndlovu, CEO of the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA), addressing the policy, governance, and integration of AI and EdTech.
• Professor Matseliso Mokhele-Makgalwa (University of the Free State, South Africa) discussing the continuous professional development of teachers.
• Dr. B. Manditereza (University of the Free State, South Africa) focusing on rethinking the Epistemology of Visible Scholarship in the Digital Age.
• Professor T. Mushiri (Executive Director, Technical for SIRDC) outlining the strategy for “Next Generation ODeL,” focusing on the integration of AI, VR/AR, and data-driven personalized learning.

The powerful lineup of speakers whose expertise steered the dialogue from policy to classroom implementation during the International Conference 1 Dr. S. Sifiso Ndlovu,2. Professor Matseliso Mokhele-Makgalwa and  3.Dr. B. Manditereza 

The ICE conference is strategically organized around thirteen detailed subthemes, including: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Cybersecurity and Privacy in Online Education, and critically, Equity and Access in ODeL. The delegates were encouraged to “ask questions, to challenge assumptions, and to build networks” in pursuit of an inclusive, innovative, Pan-African, and transformative future for education.

2005 International Conference on Transforming Education in Pictures