Senior Lecturer at Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone, Professor Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, has called on academics to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies responsibly to improve teaching, research and academic administration without compromising academic standards.
Speaking at the Academic Staff Association of Fourah Bay College (ASA-FBC) Staff Training Workshop on Tuesday, Prof. Bangura said universities should move beyond reacting to technological change and instead take a leading role in shaping the future of higher education through innovation.
The workshop was held under the theme: “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Digital Research Tools and Learning Management Systems for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Academic Administration.”
Addressing lecturers, administrators and college management, Prof. Bangura described AI as a tool that should enhance, rather than replace, scholarship. He said the core responsibilities of university lecturers—including fostering critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, ethical reasoning and mentorship—remain irreplaceable.
He urged lecturers to uphold academic integrity by verifying AI-generated content, discouraging plagiarism and guiding students to use technology as a complement to original thinking rather than a substitute for it.
On research, the senior lecturer encouraged academics to adopt digital research tools to improve data collection, analysis and international collaboration, while ensuring research addresses societal challenges, informs public policy and contributes to national development.
Prof. Bangura also highlighted the importance of Learning Management Systems (LMS), describing digital learning platforms as critical for expanding access to education, increasing student engagement and maintaining learning beyond the traditional classroom.
He called for sustained investment in digital infrastructure, continuous professional development and strong institutional leadership to position Fourah Bay College as a research-driven, digitally empowered and globally competitive institution.
“The university of the future will not be defined by the height of its buildings or the size of its libraries, but by the quality of its ideas, the adaptability of its people, and the relevance of its knowledge to society,” Prof. Bangura said.
He commended the Academic Staff Association of Fourah Bay College for organising what he described as a timely initiative, expressing confidence that the workshop would strengthen the capacity of lecturers and administrators to meet the demands of 21st-century higher education.
