Universal Journal of Educational Research Vol. 8(2), pp. 346 - 354
DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.080203
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Embedding Digital Capability into the Higher Education Curriculum: The Case of Ghana

Justice Kofi Armah ^*, Duan Van Der Westhuizen
Department of Science and Technology Education, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we report on the digital experiences of students at a dual-mode, higher education institution in Ghana. Recognizing the role of digital technologies in an increasingly globalized and competitive economy, Ghanaian authorities have embarked on several initiatives to support the development of the digital skills and capabilities of its students to enhance learning and to improve their employability in the job market. However, evidence exists that despite these initiatives and the massive investment into digital skills development, students in Ghana are still grappling with the acquisition of the skills needed for the workplace of the 21^st century. The question thus arises whether Ghanaian higher education institutions (HEIs) are sufficiently developing the digital capabilities of their students. This study used the ‘Digital at course level’ dimension of the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) - UK Digital Experience Insight Survey to determine the digital experiences of students in their chosen academic discipline to prepare them for their careers. Census sampling targeted all final-year students at a selected higher education institution. The online survey reached 14,286 students and 800 students (5.6%) responded. The results show that students use personal devices to support learning outside the classroom, despite limited attempts to embed the development of digital skills into academic disciplines. Therefore, digital technologies are rarely used to communicate and collaborate, to solve problems or to create digital artefacts in the classroom. The findings also revealed that gender and mode of study did not influence the students’ digital experiences. The limitation of the study is that the results for only one institution are reported.

KEYWORDS
Digital Capabilities, Digital Technologies, Ghana Higher Education, Digital Learning, Digital Integration

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Justice Kofi Armah , Duan Van Der Westhuizen , "Embedding Digital Capability into the Higher Education Curriculum: The Case of Ghana," Universal Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 346 - 354, 2020. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.080203.

(b). APA Format:
Justice Kofi Armah , Duan Van Der Westhuizen (2020). Embedding Digital Capability into the Higher Education Curriculum: The Case of Ghana. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(2), 346 - 354. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.080203.