Vol. 39 No. 1 (2024)
Dialogues

Managing Digital Transformation in African Higher Education Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities: Managing Digital Transformation

HTML PDF
Sunday Samson Babalola
Walter Sisulu University
Bio
Cheryl Akinyi Genga
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2256-1039
Bio
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55667/10.55667/ijede.2024.v39.i1.1333

Published 2024-11-12

How to Cite

Babalola, S. S., & Genga, C. A. (2024). Managing Digital Transformation in African Higher Education Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities: Managing Digital Transformation . International Journal of E-Learning & Distance Education Revue Internationale Du E-Learning Et La Formation à Distance, 39(1). https://doi.org/10.55667/10.55667/ijede.2024.v39.i1.1333
Copyright Notice

Abstract

Digital transformation in African higher education institutions is a complex and multifaceted process that requires deliberate investment, meticulous planning, and collaboration. This article highlights the challenges African higher education institutions face in implementing digital transformation in the context of digital transformation into six groups: digital infrastructure, leadership, financial costs, diversity, equity and inclusion, policy and framework, and external factors. The research underscores the challenges of African higher education institutions in integrating digital transformation into digital infrastructure. Digital infrastructure and leadership are critical elements in achieving digital transformation. Digital technologies can provide accessible, high-quality education that contributes to societal development and benefits all African students and staff. This approach optimises the positive impact of digital technologies by ensuring that the benefits are equitably shared throughout the continent and improving learning outcomes, accessibility, and the development and competitiveness of Africa's institutions globally.

HTML PDF

References

  1. Alenezi, M. (2021, November 29). Deep dive into digital transformation in higher education institutions. Education Sciences, 11(12), 770. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11120770
  2. Arnold, D., & Sangrà, A. (2018, June 12). Dawn or dusk of the 5th age of research in educational technology? A literature review on (e-)leadership for technology-enhanced learning in higher education (2013-2017). International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 15(1), 24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s41239-018-0104-3
  3. Bakari, H., Hunjra, A. I., & Niazi, G. S. K. (2017). How does authentic leadership influence planned organisational change? The role of employees' perceptions: Integration of theory of planned behaviour and Lewin's three-step model. Journal of Change Management, 17(2), 155–187. https://doi.org/10.1080/14697017.2017.1299370
  4. Bogler, R., Caspi, A., & Roccas, S. (2013). Transformational and passive leadership: An initial investigation of university instructors as leaders in a virtual learning environment. Educational Management Administration and Leadership, 41(3), 372–392. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143212474805
  5. Bossu, C., Iniesto, F., Vladimirschi, V., Jordan, K., & Pete, J. (2023). GO-GN guidelines for equity diversity and inclusion in open education with a focus on Africa and Latin America. Global OER Graduate Network. https://go-gn.net/?post_type=gogn_outputs&p=4561
  6. Das, A., Prajapati, A. K., Zhang, P., Srinath, M., & Ranjbari, A. (2023). Leveraging Twitter data for sentiment analysis of transit user feedback: An NLP framework. arXiv preprint arXiv:2310.07086. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2310.07086
  7. El-Amin, A. (2022). Implementing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in educational management practices. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-4803-8
  8. Gates, E., Rohn, K. C., & Murugaiah, K. (2024). Equity-related 'knots' in theory of change development: Conceptualisation and case illustrations. Evaluation and Programme Planning, 103, 102385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2023.102385
  9. Ibrahim, S. B. M., Johanis, M. A., Sultan, N. H. H., & Basir, S. N. M. (2024). Gender equality in the higher education workforce. South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics, 21(8), 107–117. https://doi.org/10.9734/sajsse/2024/v21i8864
  10. Kristiansen, M., & Bloch-Poulsen, J. (2017). Participation and social engineering in early organisational action research: Lewin and the Harwood studies. International Journal of Action Research, 13(2), 154–177. https://doi.org/10.3224/ijar.v13i2.05
  11. Lusigi, A. (2019). Higher education, technology, and equity in Africa. New Review of Information Networking, 24(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13614576.2019.1608576
  12. Muftahu, M. (2020). Diversity in higher education: Does institutional differentiation exist in the Nigerian higher education system? Asia Proceedings of Social Sciences, 6(3), 261–265. https://doi.org/10.31580/apss.v6i3.1393
  13. Nwoga, A. (2023). Breaking the invisible wall: Barriers to DEI program implementation. Open Journal of Business and Management, 11(4), 1787–1815. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojbm.2023.114100
  14. Ozturgut, O. (2017). Internationalisation for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 17(6), 83–91.
  15. Raab, M., & Griffin-Cryan, B. (2011). Digital transformation of supply chains: Creating value-when digital meets physical. Capgemini Consulting.
  16. Rodrigues, L. S. (2017). Challenges of digital transformation in higher education institutions: A brief discussion. Proceedings of 30th IBIMA Conference, Politécnico do Porto/ISCAP/CEOS.PP, Porto, Portugal.
  17. Rodríguez-Abitia, G., & Bribiesca-Correa, G. (2021). Assessing digital transformation in universities. Future Internet, 13(2), 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi13020052
  18. Ruggiano, N., & Perry, T. E. (2019). Conducting secondary analysis of qualitative data: Should we, can we, and how? Qualitative Social Work, 18(1), 81–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325017700701
  19. Sarton, E., Smith, M., Mitchell, R., & Were, D. (2022). Inclusive education in Uganda: Examples of best practice. Uganda Society for Disabled Children. https://afri-can.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Inclusive-Education-in-Uganda-examples-of-best-practice-March-2017..pdf
  20. Siri, A., Leone, C., & Bencivenga, R. (2022). Equality, diversity, and inclusion strategies adopted in a European university alliance to facilitate the higher education-to-work transition. Societies, 12(5), 140. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/12/5/140
  21. Smith, P., & Beretta, M. (2021). The Gordian Knot of practicing digital transformation: Coping with emergent paradoxes in ambidextrous organising structures. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 38(1), 166–191. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12548
  22. Tracy, J. A. (2020). Be a champion for change by using Lewin's 3-stage model of change. RDH, 40(2), 18–20.
  23. Trifonov, V. A., & Shorokhova, N. A. (2019). University digitalisation: A fashionable trend or strategic factor of regional development? In V. A. Trifonov (Ed.), Contemporary issues of economic development of Russia: Challenges and opportunities (Vol. 59, pp. 1003–1013). European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences. https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2019.04.109
  24. Tsegay, S. (2016). ICT for post-2015 education: An analysis of access and inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Research Studies in Educational Technology, 5(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrset.2016.1447
  25. Tungpantong, C., Nilsook, P., & Wannapiroon, P. (2021, March 27–29). A conceptual framework of factors for information systems success to digital transformation in higher education institutions. 9th International Conference on Information and Education Technology, Okayama, Japan. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIET51873.2021.9419596
  26. Woody, E. W. (2020). MHS genesis implementation: Strategies in support of successful EHR conversion. Military Medicine, 185(9–10), e1520–e1527. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usaa184
  27. World Bank. (2015). World development indicator: 2014. https://doi.org/10.1596/9781-4648-0163-1
  28. Zeleza, P. T., & Okanda, P. M. (2021). Enhancing the digital transformation of African universities. Journal of Higher Education in Africa/Revue de l'enseignement supérieur en Afrique, 19(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v19i1.1886