By: Daniel Yao Akpabli | ignewss — Ghana
The President of the Accra Institute of Technology (AIT), Professor Clement K. Dzidonu, has called for a shift in how individuals and educational institutions approach learning as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and rapid technological change reshape the world of work.
Professor Dzidonu said graduation should no longer be seen as the end of a person’s learning journey but as the beginning of a new phase of continuous learning and professional development.
He described this approach as the “Sovereign Triple-L”, the Sovereign Lifelong Learner, referring to an individual who takes personal responsibility for continuously renewing, deepening and extending their skills and capabilities throughout their professional and personal life.
Professor Dzidonu argued that the traditional path of acquiring knowledge at university, graduating, entering a profession and relying on that knowledge for many years is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.
“You went to university. You acquired knowledge. You graduated. You entered a profession. And for many years, much of what you had learned remained relevant to what you were called upon to do. That world is disappearing.” He noted.
He said advances in AI, emerging technologies and changing professional practices are continually altering the skills and capabilities required in the workplace.
Beyond Graduation
Professor Dzidonu maintained that while university qualifications remain important in recognising what an individual has achieved at a particular point, they cannot guarantee that the knowledge and capabilities acquired will remain sufficient throughout a professional career.
He therefore wanted graduates to take greater ownership of their continuing education by regularly asking what they know, what they can do, what they need to learn and what they may need to unlearn or relearn.
“The Sovereign Triple-L is not simply someone who keeps taking courses, accumulates certificates, or waits until an employer sends them for training. The Sovereign Triple-L is a Sovereign Lifelong Learner, a person who takes ownership of continuing learning.”
The SEEK-Gap
Professor Dzidonu used the term ‘SEEK‘ to describe an individual’s Skills, Expertise, Experience, Knowledge and Know-how.
He said the rapid pace of technological change is creating what he calls the “SEEK-Gap”, the changing distance between the capabilities individuals currently possess and those increasingly required to remain effective and relevant.
This, he argued, gives rise to the proposition “The More You Know, the Less You Know.”
He explained that the statement does not mean learning reduces knowledge. Rather, the boundaries of what professionals are expected to know and do are continually expanding as technology, professional practices and new challenges emerge.
The task, he said, is therefore not simply to accumulate knowledge but to continually turn evolving SEEK into professional capabilities that enable people to solve problems, exercise judgement, adapt, innovate, collaborate and create value.
“The future will increasingly belong to those who remain capable of learning what tomorrow requires.”
Learning With AI
Professor Dzidonu also urged individuals to view AI as a tool for extending human capabilities rather than as a replacement for human judgement.
He said the more important question is not whether AI will make existing knowledge obsolete, but how people can use AI, technology, experience and continuous learning to keep developing their capabilities.
He cautioned against surrendering human judgement to technology, arguing that people should learn with AI, question it, challenge it and use it responsibly while continuing to develop their ability to think, create and make decisions.
See the Opportunity, Explore the Possibility, Create the Difference
Central to the AIT President’s message is what he called the Opportunity Possibility Difference (OPD) Perspective.
He encourages individuals to “See the Opportunity” by recognising that change, challenges, mistakes, unfamiliar assignments and technological disruption can provide opportunities for learning. “Explore the Possibility” involves asking what new skills, expertise, experience, knowledge and capabilities can emerge from those opportunities. The final stage, “Create the Difference,” is about applying those capabilities to solve problems, create value, improve lives and contribute to organisations and communities.
Professor Dzidonu said the Sovereign Triple-L mindset is relevant not only to graduates but also to students, professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, business leaders and institutions seeking to remain capable in a rapidly changing environment.
His message to graduates is summed up in a simple call: “Do not allow graduation to become the end of your learning journey. Let it become the beginning of a new one.”
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com