ICT Infrastructure challenges for African Universities
"Can anything be done to solve the ICT infrastructural challenges faced by African Universities?"
It is a complex process to motivate African universities to adopt ICT and add value to their core business of teaching, learning and research. Its complex because generally African universities are under funded. The investments in ICT and related infrastructure is "unaffordable" in reality to most of the universities. However when all is said and done I would like to challenge the universities to think creatively when it comes to funding ICT related infrastructure. I believe that "money follows good ideas".
Definitions
ICT: According to SearchCIO-Midmarket.com Definitions (http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid183_gci928405,00.html) ICT - information and communications technology or technologies - is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning. ICTs are often spoken of in a particular context, such as ICTs in education, health care, or libraries.
ICT Infrastructure relates to the computers, the network and the internet access technology. The infrastructure is the base upon which the applications that are used to meet the users goals run. For example a learning management system will function optimally when there is a computer, a network and internet access.
African Universities - I am referring to African universities who are members of the RUFORUM network (www.ruforum.org). These universities are located in East and Southern Africa.
Suggested Strategies to address ICT Infrastructural Challenges in African Universities
- Design Policies that link to university budgeting in order to facilitate prioritization based on what the university has agreed is critical for it to achieve its mission.
- Inbuild ICT infrastructure expenditure into the mainstream operational budget for the institution. The formation of an ICT fund is advisable - if this fund is an endowment fund all the better. Relying only on donor funding is risky as it could most likely run out.
- African universities must introduce "technology fees" as part of their regular fee structure. These fees dont amount to huge amounts but they help achieve the following: (1)instil a culture of paying for technology services (2) show commitment on the part of the university to support investments in ICT making it possible for donors to beef up support for such institutions
- African universities must participate meaningfully in their National Educational & Research Network initiatives. Through these networks the universities can speak with one voice and lobby for universities to be treated differently by the internet service providers.African universities must understand that they have the potential to form a sizeable market segment for the value add services that would result from increased affordable connectivity. Telecomms and Internet Service Providers must focus on value adding services rather than trying to make money from selling the infrastructure platforms.
- African universities must celebrate and share their ICT success stories to encourage investments in ICT. Nothing sells better than a good idea supported by a practical case study.
- African universities must create understanding of the value in integrating ICT to the core business of universities. ICT must be understood to be a tool to help universities teach better, become dynamic learning centers and research innovatively.
Borrowing from President Barrack Obama's philosophy I challenge the African universities to remember that "Yes we can"
By Nodumo Dhlamini while at Ghion Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - 21 April 2009
