E-Readiness for networked learning in East African Universities

Abstract

Academic growth in universities depends increasingly on information and communications technologies (lCT's) and the abilities of all stakeholders to collect, process, and use digital information in teaching, learning, support, research and development initiatives. This research study proposed an assessment of e-readiness framework to evaluate the E.A universities readiness for networked learning based on six categories of indicators: Network access, People and organization online, locally relevant content, ICT in everyday life, ICT in the workplace and workforce-ICT human capital using secondary data collected from 53 E.A universities by KENET. To analyse the data, descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to delineate variable characteristics. The data was presented using tables and charts. Correlation analysis was used to establish relationships between variables and multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the predictive effects of independent variables on networked learning. The key findings as related to the study objectives and hypothesis revealed a strong correlation between network access and networked learning, so is ICT in everyday life, ICT in the workplace, people and organization online, locally relevant content. The results also revealed that there was no correlation between ICT human capacity in the EA universities and networked learning. The conclusion from the study was that in East African universities should align their policies, structures and strategies to boost networked learning for academic excellence. The study therefore recommends future studies should aim at a more in depth understanding of networked learning emerging strategic capabilities, communities in East African context and in Kenyan context in particular in contribution to vision 2030.