As part of its ongoing commitment to educate and prepare future leaders and professionals in Africa with 21st century skills, Honoris United Universities – the first and largest pan-African network of private higher education institutions – has announced a new partnership with Area9 Lyceum, a world-renowned leader in personalized and adaptive learning platforms.
The addition of adaptive learning, that recreates at scale personalized learning with the benefits of a one-to-one personal tutor, to the Honoris curricula reflects the network’s emphasis on academic innovation by providing students with access to advanced learning technologies. Greatly differing from traditional models of education, adaptive learning cuts training time to focus on creating higher proficiency in learners, improving outcomes and uncovering unconscious incompetence.
Personalized learning to improve skills acquisition
Adaptive learning uses proven data analytics and technologies that deeply understand the learning patterns of every unique individual through algorithms from billions of learning experiences, automatically adjusting to the needs of each learner. It gives institutions the opportunity to continuously tailor-make learning according to the needs of each student, delivering an optimal experience that puts the outcomes of the learner at the center which is aligned with Honoris’ student centric approach to education. Capitalizing on Area9’s proven experience in the health science sector, Honoris has introduced the platform in the strategic verticals of Health in Tunisia and Business in South Africa.
Commenting on the partnership, Laura Kakon, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer, Honoris United Universities, explains how, “Higher education is undergoing a fundamental reorganization, with a pivot towards new learning systems that accelerate and improve skills acquisition. We are delighted to partner with the Area9 Lyceum’s Rhapsode™ adaptive learning platform to create a personalized learning approach that is critical for improving the outcomes of our students. At Honoris, we are committed to continuously investing in academic innovation and exploring new methods of delivery with a strong focus on student success. 21st century skills development requires 21st century teaching and learning approaches.”
Developed with 25 years of scientific cognitive research and having served over 30 million learners globally, the Area9 Adaptive Learning Platform – Rhapsode™ – guides learners step-by-step using continuous adaptive learning technology whilst eliminating boredom and frustration. The platform can cut the time to proficiency by as much as 50%, with the potential for 100% competency achieved by all.
Dr. Khurram Jamil, President – Strategic Initiatives, Area9 Lyceum, added, “Honoris is the first higher education organization in Africa to bring Rhapsode™ adaptive learning technology to students in higher education in the continent. As we continue to examine the seismic impact that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is having on the needs of the future workforce, we are glad to provide this transformative, data-backed, 21st century training approach to Honoris students and support the provision of the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the technology-enabled workplace.”
Honoris is committed to creating transformative impact in education across Africa by remaining at the forefront of academic innovation, leveraging adaptive learning, AI, AR and VR, simulation, and alternative academic models such as coding bootcamps and more to prepare world-class African talent that is competitive in today’s fast-paced, demanding and increasingly digitized labor and start-up markets.
