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2Blended learning in English forAcademic Purposes courses:A Nigerian case studyPeter A AborisadeIntroductionWhen the blended learning project commenced in the Federal University ofTechnology Akure (FUTA), it was the blind leading the blind, a foray in the dark.Other than reading of computer assisted language learning (CALL) in the literature,none of us had first-hand experience of supporting learning with technology.Decisions were made ad hoc, and experiments carried out more in hope than inexpectation. The curriculum was tinkered with from time to time. Progress wasslow and challenging. The main challenges included the technical logistics ofimplementation and integration, as well as the academic issues of pedagogy.We did not have the advantage of learning from the experience of any institutionin Nigeria; neither did we have support from any authority. Five years down theline, from a borrowed Web 1.0 of an external non-governmental organisation (theProjektHope) we now have some Web 2.0 tools on our virtual learning environment(VLE). We started with one English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course and we nowhave six courses, EAP (2), Biology (1), Entrepreneurship (1), Computer Science (1)and Electrical Engineering (1). Uptake is expected to increase exponentially in acouple of years as we have formed a Blended Learning Research Group (BLRG)to provide training for the growing numbers of academic staff.ContextFUTA is one of the few specialised universities in Nigeria, established in 1981. Like mostuniversities in Nigeria, FUTA has a General Studies Unit, to cater for the arts and socialscience subjects with the aim of giving students of science and technology a balancedperspective of life. The ‘Use of English’ courses aim to remedy students’ languageshortfalls and assist their development of academic skills. All students take the insessionalcourses in the foundation year. Nigerian universities are low-resourced withthe triple constraints of few teachers, large classes and grossly inadequate facilities.Enrolment continues to increase with freshmen now accounting for around 3,000 pluseach year, but staff numbers have remained low, with facilities remaining inadequate.Blended learning in English for Academic Purposes courses | 35