Information and Communication Information and Communication TechnologiesTechnologies

Building Capacities in African UniversitiesBuilding Capacities in African Universities

By

G. Olalere Ajayi

Director General/CEO

National Information Technology Development Agency

Federal Ministry of Science and Technology

At

ICTP

Trieste, Italy.

11th – 16th Feb, 2002

ConvergenceConvergence

Technology, Services, Goods e.t.cTechnology, Services, Goods e.t.c

Information

TelecommunicationsComputers

ICT as World’s Largest MachineICT as World’s Largest Machine

Internet doubles every hundred days Revolutionary in development in terms of price/performance ratioMobility – Mobile InternetNeed for fundamental shift in Educational Methodology

Reaching the 50 million mark

05

1015

2025

3035

40

Radio PC TV Internet

Years

Years to reach 50 million mark

Radio

PC

TV

Internet

In fra struc tu ra l

In sti tu tion a l Le ve l, p la nsa n d con tro ls

D e pa rtm en ta l/C h am pionL ev e l

U n iv ers i ty ITP o licy

N ation a l ITP o licy

M an a ge m e nt S tru ctu re F in an ce

N o n - T e ch n ica l

M od ifie d /S tre ng h ten edC o m p ute r C en tre

IT U n it

IT O rga n isa tion a lS up po rt

T e ch n ica l

In sti tu tion a l H u m anR e sou rces

C A P A C IT YB U ILD IN G

C urr icu laR e struc tu r ing

ITA cad em ic

D e pa r tm e nt

ITL ite racy

fo r S tu de n ts

E d uca tion

F a cu ltyM em be rs

A dm in istra tiveS ta ff

B ra inD ra in

S pe cia lIn cen tiv es

N e tw o rk ing H ard wa re S oftw a re S ystemA dm in istra tion

W ebT ech no lo gy

C r i tica lM a ss

o fIT E xpe r ts

W o rksh o ps In te gra tiono f IT in toT e ach ing

a n d R esea rch

T ra in ing

H u m a n Re so urces

(A )C o m p ute r

a nd ITE qu ipm e nt

(B )N e tw o rk

(C )B u i ld ing

(D )L ib ra ry

(E )O th e rs

IN F R A S T R U C T U R A LC A P A C IT Y B U ILD IN G

S tanda lone

co m p ute r

C a b les W ire le ss O p tica lF ib res

IN T R A N E T L A N W A N

D ia lU p

S to rea nd

fo rw a rd

D e d ica tedL ine

V S A T

IN T E R N E T N ation a lA cad em icN e tw o rk

N E T W O R K

B

L ib ra ryN e tw o rk

C o nn e ctionto

C a m p usN e tw o rk

A cce ssto

In te rne t

A cce ss toV irtu a l/D ig i ta l

L ib ra ries

In te gra tedL ib ra ry

M an a ge m e ntS ystem

L ib ra ry

D

D ig ita lP A B X

A na lo gue

A na lo gue D ig ita l

C on n ec tiv i tyto

P S T N

T e le ph onefa ci li ties

E ar th inga nd

L igh te n ingA r re sto r

R e liab leP ub licS upp ly

A lte rna tiveS o urces

e .g . S o la r

S tan dbyF ac i lit ies

E lec tric i tyS upp ly

O th erIn fras tru c tu res

E

Comparative Distribution of ICT Comparative Distribution of ICT FacilitiesFacilities

0102030405060708090

100

POP M.C. Internet

Per

cen

tage Africa

Others

POP - PopulationF.L. - Fixed Line SubscribersMC - Mobile Cellular SubscribersPC - Personal Computers

Functions of HEIs (J. Daly) Include:Functions of HEIs (J. Daly) Include:

Education (traditional, distance education & others)(Research & Development)Knowledge Creation, Organization & ManagementKnowledge Gate KeepingArchival & Library ServicesManagement & University administrationSocio-economic-technological ServicesOvercoming the Digital DivideHuman Resources Development in generalTechnological Gate-KeepingTechnological Transfer & Adaptation

Levels of ICT and Internet Levels of ICT and Internet Development in HEIsDevelopment in HEIs

Single Computer with Dial-Up facilities Local Area Network (LAN) in a location for all users Local Area Network Campus Area Network Library LAN Internet Connectivity of Campus Network VSAT and wireless facilities for quick deployment

State and Use of ICT in HEIsState and Use of ICT in HEIs Poor availability and quality of infrastructure Inadequate Institutional Capacity Inadequate Human Resource Capacity Low bandwidth of connectivity Poor penetration of ICT

into HEI’s Poor penetration of ICT into HEI’s

Some ObstaclesSome Obstacles Absence of NICI policy to take care of HEI’s Gross under-utilization of existing infrastructures Poor telecommunications facilities Electricity supply and other basic infrastructures

Some Internet ServicesSome Internet Services• E-mail:

• Academic• Administration• Management• Socio-economic activities

• Remote Login (Telnet)• Possible access to super computer facilities

• World Wide Web (WWW)• Revolution within revolution• Teaching, research and development• Distance Education and on-line courses

Uses in ICT in HEIs

• Teaching, Learning and Research;• Contents provision;• Professional tool for future labour market;• Administration and Operational Management;• Tactical and Strategic Management;• Collection, dissemination and exchange of

information;• Support for conduct and management of research;• Transformation of library to an Information collection,

processing, compiling and dissemination unit;• Minimal usage of IT currently locally in the University

and externally;

Library in the Information AgeLibrary in the Information Age

• Transformation into a new information services unit• Electronic acquisition and serials control• Electronic inter library loan• Electronic circulation functions

• Gradual trends toward library digitization• Emergence of library information networks• Connectivity to campus intranet and Internet• Journals on CD-ROMs• Electronic Journals

• Use of digital libraries in Africa and worldwide

Comparative Situation• Over 200 universities in the US have 45Mbps Internet connectivity• 85% of primary schools have 1.5Mbps Internet connectivity• ONLY a few African universities have 64kbps and higher bandwidth

Integration of IT into University Functions• Entry (teachers teach students to use IT)• Adoption (teachers use IT to support traditional instruction)• Adaptation (teachers use IT to enrich curricula)• Appropriation (IT is integrated and used for its unique capabilities)• Invention (Development of new learning environment using IT as a

tool).

Policy and Development Policy and Development Strategies and ProjectsStrategies and Projects

ICT IN HEIs IN 9 COUNTRIES STUDIED REVEAL ABSENCE OF NICI POLICY• Group 1:Group 1: Definitive Institutional IT Policy Definitive Institutional IT Policy• Examples: University of Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaExamples: University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania University of Zambia, LusakaUniversity of Zambia, Lusaka

• Group 2:Group 2: Non-Definitive IT Policy at the on-set Non-Definitive IT Policy at the on-set• Examples: University of GhanaExamples: University of Ghana

• Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, NigeriaObafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria• National University of LesothoNational University of Lesotho• University of SwazilandUniversity of Swaziland

Global TrendsGlobal Trends

• On-line courses• Tele-education• Tele-medicine• Distance Education• Multi-media• Virtual Learning, Virtual Laboratory and Virtual

Observatory• Mobile Information Society• New Generation Internet (NGI) in Gbps • Virtual/Digital Libraries

Some Findings about the on-line Some Findings about the on-line Discussion on ICT in HEIs in Discussion on ICT in HEIs in AfricaAfrica

ICT provides powerful tools and new paradigm for execution of the functions of HEIs – education, knowledge creation, knowledge organization and management, knowledge gate keeping, archival and library services as well as socio-economic-technological services to the community;

A lot of similarity in the HEIs studied; Need to transform HEIs from traditional role to a more

demandingrole catalyzed by the ICT;

Donor financial & technical assistance , especially in HRD were significant to the success of the projects;

Some Findings about the on-line Some Findings about the on-line Discussion on ICT in HEIs in AfricaDiscussion on ICT in HEIs in Africa- - contdcontd

New curricula necessary, which is learner centered; Integration of ICT into learning, research and management is

still in its infancy in most of the cases

Internet based degree programmes , and Internet based open Universities could constitute challenges to the traditional brickand mortar traditional universities

ICT strategic policy, plans and implementation mandatory HEIs can be marginalized by global on-line institutions Urgent need to integrate ICT into learning, research &

management Transformation of the library into new Information Services Unit

Framework for Assessment of Framework for Assessment of ICT maturityICT maturity

• Planning and monitoring tools;• Application of ICT to Teaching and Learning;• Application of ICT in Research;• Application of ICT in Academic Information Services

(Library);• Application of ICT in Administration and Management• ICT Infrastructure;• ICT Organizational Support (Infrastructure);• ICT Financing;• Training, Research and Development in ICT.

Role of AAU, HEIs and Role of AAU, HEIs and Other StakeholdersOther Stakeholders

• Should make adequate budget provision s for ICT• Should declare IT as a priority project• Must create access to computer facilities for staff and students by

providing adequate funding• Must not rely only on donation assistance for ICT development• Donor assistance could accelerate the development of ICT in HEI• Should have a website• Must acquire skills to use and develop IT• Should embark on institution-private sector R & D projects• Must be part of IT development• Adequate infrastructure should be established• Adequate institutional capacity including policy and action plan• Adequate HRD must be developed

AAUAAU• An integrated digital (virtual) library for Africa must be set up• Creation of network for ICT experts• Assessment exercise should be completed and output posted on the

website• Should develop guidelines to the setting up of ICT facilities in HEIs• Should create an observatory on the Internet – One stop shop on ICT in HEIs

Development of ICT in HEIs Benchmarks Success Stories Policy related matters

• Should extend DATAD project to more HEIs• Should collaborate the evolution of a comprehensive African Digital

Library

Role of International Funding Role of International Funding AgenciesAgencies

• Support to AAU in the realization of the roles and goals of AAU • Creation of ICT observatory on the Internet• Establishment of tool box and help desk• Setting up of Internet connectivity with bandwidth of not less• than 64 kbps in HEIs• Establishment of a comprehensive and information rich African digital/virtual library in collaboration with other stakeholders in

the project• Selection of universities at various levels of ICT development for ICT pilot projects to be funded by the funding agencies and locally• Development of national and regional academic information network

ConclusionConclusion Absolute Necessity For HEIs to be Vanguard for ICT Use and

Development In Africa Need For Infrastructural, Institutional and Human Capacity

Development ICT Capacity Building To Achieve

o Sustainability of the technologyo Poverty alleviationo Job Creation and Wealth Creation for the graduateso Food Production and Security

African HEIs without adequate ICT facilities in the next one year or two max. will not be able to discharge the functions for which they were established and will be serving little or no role in the advancement of knowledge.

The continued existence of such HEIs becomes debatable