UG marks 10 years of Sakai digital learning platform
The University of Ghana (UG) has commemorated the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Sakai Learning Management System (LMS), with a call for greater investment in digital learning to meet the needs of future generations.
Sakai is an open-source learning management system that provides a virtual platform for teaching, learning, research and collaboration.
The celebration conference, which took place last Tuesday, August 19, was held on the theme, “Digital Learning: reflecting on a decade of the Sakai LMS journey at the University of Ghana”.
It brought together faculty, students, administrators and guests to reflect on the transformative impact of Sakai on teaching and learning.
Transformation
Delivering the keynote address, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Prof. Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi, said the Sakai LMS was introduced out of the necessity to transform the student learning experience.
He explained that Sakai provided students with access to lecture notes, reading materials, videos, and assignments at the click of a button, while also promoting independent learning.
“With Sakai, both lecturers and students can continue teaching, learning and submitting assignments even while travelling, provided there is internet connectivity,” he said.
Inclusiveness
Prof. Oheneba-Sakyi, therefore, urged the university to ensure that digital learning was inclusive, accessible, and equitable. He cautioned that technological innovation should not deepen inequality in higher education.
“We must guarantee that all students, regardless of background, have access to the tools and opportunities provided by Sakai and other digital platforms. Digital transformation must go hand in hand with accountability and fairness,” he added.
Looking ahead, Prof. Oheneba-Sakyi also urged the university community to embrace emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, but apply them wisely in ways that serve the country’s broader educational and developmental goals.
Central role in teaching
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of the UG, College Registrar for College of Education of the university, Joseph Oduro Nkansah, said Sakai had become central to the university’s academic life over the past decade.
“What began as an initiative of the School of Continuing and Distance Education and the College of Education is today woven into the fabric of how we teach, how our students learn, and how we remain connected as a university community,” he said.
The system, he added, had expanded learning opportunities, enhanced assessment practices and strengthened collaboration between lecturers and students.
COVID-19
Mr Nkansah recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lecture halls fell silent, Sakai became the “lifeblood” of the university.
“It enabled us to move teaching and assessments almost overnight, ensuring that our students could continue their studies without losing hope of direction,” he said.
That experience, he said, proved that digital learning was not just about convenience but about resilience, adaptability and the future of higher education.
The College Registrar also paid tribute to Prof. Oheneba-Sakyi, described as the “father of Sakai” at the University of Ghana, for his visionary leadership in championing the platform.
