David Watson Memorial Lecture: Professor Mrs Goski Alabi
Professor Mrs Goski Alabi is Vice-Chair, African Network for Internationalization of Education, Ghana and Professor of Quality Management and Leadership. She was the David Watson Memorial Lecturer, speaking on the role of higher education and innovations in preparing students for working in resource-constrained settings.
Lecture report
By Rachel Dixon, co-chair, Human Welfare Conference 2019
The 2019 Human Welfare Conference opened with the annual Sir David Watson Memorial Lecture, named for the former Principal of Green Templeton College.
Professor Goski Alabi, of Ghana, delivered this yearβs address, focusing on the role of higher education in preparing students for work in settings with resource constraints. Professor Alabi bravely shared her own experiences as a student from a low-income background in imploring audience members to innovate towards expanded access to higher education. She rebelled against the notion that investment in primary education is tantamount: “Primary and secondary education in themselves do not break the poverty cycleβ¦ The difference is higher education which has the potential to create an awakened and capable people with a heart to serve humanity.” She called on Green Templeton College and other institutions to collaborate and mobilize resources that will help students from challenging backgrounds.
I was particularly struck by the optimism with which she views her work. To Professor Alabi, no challenge is too big to solve. She spoke of humanoid robots (such as Professor Sophia) who will revolutionise the way we deliver lessons. And she noted how the internet is already challenging who has access to information that was traditionally hoarded behind institutional walls. As she explained, “technology is redefining… the way things are done.” The challenge of todayβs institutions is to couple these technological advancements with a vision of morality that emphasizes skill development and impact over certification. “The world requires qualifications,” Professor Alabi lamented, “but the world does not need qualifications. The world needs knowledge.”
Video of the lecture
The David Watson Memorial Lecture was livestreamed by Human Welfare Conference 2019 sponsor Gapeli: watch the David Watson Memorial Lecture here and the Q&A session here.
Pictures from the lecture
Professor Mrs Goski Alabi was the 2019 David Watson Memorial Lecturer (Credit: Nuno Pereira)
Goski Alabi pictured with Human Welfare Conference 2019 co-chair Rachel Dixon (Credit: Nuno Pereira)
Goski Alabi presented the college with a copy of her book, ‘Managing for Excellence in the 21st Century’ (Credit: Nuno Pereira)
College Principal Denise Lievesley thanking Goski Alabi for her book, which can be found in the Green Templeton library (Credit: Nuno Pereira)
Goski Alabi spoke on the role of higher education and innovations in preparing students for working in resource constrained settings (Credit: Nuno Pereira)
