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Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged universities in the country to adopt smart and digital technologies to facilitate teaching and learning and compete favourably with peers across the world.

He noted that the world, over the last decade, had entered into a digital era, one which dictated almost every aspect of human life.

Universities must, therefore, adopt these technologies to create the required learning environment to enhance delivery.

Former President Mahama said this in a recorded speech at the launch of the 50th Anniversary of the Department of Communication Studies (DCS), University of Ghana, in Accra, of which he is an Alumnus.

The anniversary is to, among other things, celebrate successes chalked over the past five decades by the Department as well as restructure to deliver quality communication training to meet current trends.

It was on the theme: “50 Years of Excellence in Communication Scholarship and Training: Reimagining the Field in a Digital Era.”

Mr Mahama noted that digital communication had enhanced education delivery with online learning reaching a far expansive population beyond the confines of a physical classroom while encouraging inter and intra-institutional exchange of library materials, facilitating easy teaching, learning and research.

“In this respect, I look forward to seeing a future where all our traditional universities can fully embrace smart, digital technology and adapt an immersive learning technology to stimulate the required learning environment scenario to facilitate teaching and learning,” he said.  

“ In our time here in this school, video, voice and data stood independently of each other with minimal interface.”

“From a previously analogue world in which we existed and we were taught, we have over the last few decades entered a digital era, one that dictates almost every aspect of our way of life.”

He commended Management, staff and students of the DCS, as well as the entire University, for their contributions toward molding the school into a world-class institute.

Mr Mahama urged the Department to build on the gains made for present and future generations to leapfrog to higher heights and pledged to support the ICT programme of the University with computers.

Madam Fatimatu Abubakar, the Deputy Minister of Information, applauded the Department of Communication Studies for its enormous contribution to the information sector.

She assured it of the Ministry's continued support to enhance its research work.