Last Updated on Friday, July 28, 2023 by HEET Website Team
The focus area of strengthening the use of Digital Technology holds immense importance in higher education, offering a plethora of benefits that propel institutions like SUA towards growth and innovation.
Embracing state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure, online learning platforms, and capacity building in digital resources empowers higher education institutions to interact more productively with the global economy, industries, and the labor market, while enhancing educational access and quality.
Through the integration of digital technology, SUA endeavors to revolutionize learning, optimize administrative functions, and foster a digitally inclusive environment, ensuring students receive a comprehensive and future-ready education as follows.
i) Establishment and Upgrading of State-of-the-Art ICT Infrastructure
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) connectivity plays a pivotal role in higher education, offering opportunities for growth, innovation, and enhanced interaction with the labor market and global economy, including industries. However, institutions like SUA often face challenges in achieving adequate ICT connectivity due to limited resources and technological expertise required for a reliable ICT environment. Despite these challenges, SUA acknowledges the priority of investing in ICT infrastructure and intends to utilize funds from the HEET project for the following:
- Review SUA’s current ICT infrastructure to identify gaps and needs, ensuring effective installation and commissioning.
- Procure, install, and commission equipment and facilities for ICT systems, including internet connectivity.
- Establish solar power backup systems.
- Acquire equipment for LAN management and bandwidth control.
- Install servers for remote access, backup, and data recovery.
- Equip two ICT laboratories.
ii) Online Learning Infrastructure: VLE, Proctoring, Online Conferencing
To promote educational equity, cope with unforeseen disasters, and enhance service quality and accessibility, SUA aims to deliver teaching, learning, and administrative functions through digital platforms. The digitization efforts will focus on developing an enterprise system that integrates various university operations, such as admission, examinations, finance, administration, planning, procurement, and student management.
Additionally, the Sokoine National Agricultural Library will undergo digitization to make its resources accessible remotely. SNAL will collaborate with other libraries in Tanzania through the Consortium for Tanzania Universities and Research Libraries (COTUL) to subscribe to e-resources. SUA’s long-term goal is to digitize learning programs, ensuring at least 50% of the programs become digital by the project’s end.
Major activities planned include:
- Analyze and identify the university’s business operations to be digitized for automation.
- Develop an enterprise system for university core operations.
- Conduct training for staff and management on the use of the enterprise system.
- Strengthen the Learning Management System (LMS) and implement lecture recording and storage facilities.
- Enhance the student information system and develop online learning course content.
iii) Capacity Building for Online and ODL Learning Resources
To improve educational access and quality, SUA recognizes the significance of online and Open Distance Learning (ODL). Therefore, investment in developing learning resources, upgrading facilities, and providing suitable equipment is essential. Staff capacity building is also crucial to enhance content knowledge and pedagogical skills, leading to improved student achievements.
The university proposes to strengthen connectivity and build capacity for developing and delivering online and ODL content. This includes training faculty members to produce video lectures and interactive learning modules to support flipped classes and open-courses that offer diverse perspectives. Additionally, write-shops will be conducted to develop self-paced online learning modules, expanding access to gateway courses.
iv) Selecting and Customizing Moodle-Based Learning Platform
SUA plans to select and customize a suitable Moodle-based learning platform to facilitate its online learning initiatives and other relevant digital technology applications. This platform will play a vital role in the university’s efforts to embrace digital technology and enhance the overall learning experience for students.
In conclusion, SUA’s commitment to strengthening the use of digital technology encompasses improving ICT infrastructure, establishing online learning platforms, promoting educational equity for students with special learning needs, and investing in capacity building for online and ODL resources. These initiatives will empower the institution to embrace the digital era effectively and provide enhanced educational opportunities for its students.