James Hope University students engage LSE on the future of education, reciprocal partnerships and navigating an AI-driven world

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) returned to James Hope University for a second campus visit on Monday, 14th September, reinforcing growing engagement between the two institutions and creating a platform for students to participate in a global conversation on the future of higher education. The engagement, held under the theme “Education Across Borders: Building Collaborative Opportunities Between the Global South and West,” brought members of the LSE leadership team into direct conversation with students and members of the James Hope University (“JHU”) community. The session examined how universities can move beyond conventional models of international engagement to build deeper, more reciprocal relationships across regions, while preparing students and institutions for the rapid transformation taking place in education and the world.

The LSE leadership team included Ben Plummer-Powell, Chief Philanthropy and Global Engagement Officer, Sarah Cook – Director of Leadership Philanthropy and Corey Moore – Chief of staff Global Engagement & Philanthropy.

The visit marked a milestone in strengthening connections between James Hope University and one of the world’s leading academic institutions (LSE has recently been ranked number 1 University in London and top  3 University in the United Kingdom according to the 2027 Guardian University Guide)

Held under the theme “Education Across Borders: Building Collaborative Opportunities between the Global South and the West,” the conversation explored the evolving landscape of higher education and the opportunities for institutions across different regions to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and build lasting impact.

The event was hosted by Zephia Ovia-Ikem, JHU Director of Strategic Partnerships & International Office (Board of Trustees Representative),  and provided an opportunity for an engaging exchange on some of the most pressing questions shaping the future of education.

The engagement comes at a time when African universities are increasingly positioning themselves as important contributors to global conversations on education, innovation, research and development. The conversation also turned to the rapidly changing role of artificial intelligence in education. With students already using AI for learning, research and work, the session considered how universities should respond to the technology while ensuring that the core purpose of education remains firmly rooted in developing critical thinkers and capable professionals.

“With AI rapidly advancing, most of the academic degrees we’ve obtained today will almost feel outdated. Many of us will need to engage in lifelong learning. With that being said, AI is one thing, but the importance of enhancing our soft skills also matters in the context of education (Ben Plummer-Powell, Chief Philanthropy and Global Engagement Officer)

Addressing the need for soft skills as a critical part of education is what will enable global citizenship. Suggestions were made on what it means to go beyond the classroom to enforce a culture of communication and learning about different cultures and regions.

Another core moment in the room was the question around “What role should academic institutions play in socio-economic issues and policy formulation?” Discussing what role and boundaries universities hold on public discourse and what it means in different regions across the south-west divide

“Most Western universities usually have a stance on socio-economic issues and serve as part of the advocacy/voice when it comes to such areas. However, in the Nigerian market, academic institutions are usually neutral to socio-economic discourse and don’t take a stance on hard issues affecting society. Their role is to teach theory in silos. As the face of education evolves with AI and more convergence of learning beyond the classroom, it will be interesting to see how African universities evolve in the next 5-10 years” (Zephia Ovia-Ikem, Director Strategic Partnerships & International Office/ BoT Representative)  

For James Hope University, the visit reflects the University’s commitment to building meaningful global partnerships and creating opportunities for its students, faculty, and wider community to engage with leading institutions and ideas from around the world.

As James Hope University continues to build its global academic network, conversations such as these are an important part of shaping the future of education in Africa and beyond.

We are grateful to the LSE team, our management,  faculty, students,  and guests for contributing to this important conversation and helping to shape the future of education.