An Investigation into Using Current Information Technologies to Provide Engineering Education to Sub- Saharan Africa
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| Audience/Grade: | College Freshman-College Senior |
| Discipline(s): |
Information Systems Information Technology International Engineering Education |
| Special Topic(s): | |
| Learning Resource Type: |
Reference - Educational Research Paper |
| Media Type: |
Audio |
| Author(s): |
DIRK SCHAEFER NICHOLAS KIRKLAND VALENTIN VITANOV |
| Description: | Int. J. Engng Ed. Vol. 24, No. 2, 2, pp. pp. 345-356, 2008. Special issue on Design and Engineering Education in a Flat World. Abstract: "Engineering education is one of the key factors for the development of any nation. Nowhere is this more true than in Sub-Saharan Africa, where a dearth of engineers has contributed to the lowest regional standard of living of anywhere in the world. The need in this region is so vast and immediate that it could only be met by the use of ICT-based education. This paper presents the findings of an investigation into the feasibility of providing tertiary level engineering education through current information and communication technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Data collected include an extensive review of the available literature, contact with current providers of ICT-based engineering education, and a survey of 250 engineering firms in Sub-Saharan Africa, the end-users of engineering education in that region. The findings indicate that it is indeed feasible to deliver tertiary level engineering education to Sub-Saharan Africa, assuming that resources could be found for course development and to enhance the technological capacity of local institutions. This paper complements the picture of a `flat world' drawn by Thomas L. Friedman who in his recent book focused on well-developed countries only." |
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| Related Resources | |
| Keywords: | flat world Information technology; distance learning; tertiary engineering education; Africa; Third world |
| Is Component of: |
Design and Engineering Education in a Flat World |
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| Use of Resource: |
Conclusions: There is obviously a critical need both for more engineers in Sub-Saharan Africa and a greater capacity to produce engineers on a broader scale. Given the very limited resource base of all countries in the region, with the exception of South Africa, it will be impossible to increase the pool of available engineers using traditional education methods. The only feasible means for doing this is an ICT-based engineering education programme. The current technological development of ICT is fully capable of supporting such a programme. The situation in Sub-Saharan Africa with regard to its technological capacity to support an ICTbased engineering education programme is not favorable, although it is improving on all fronts. Sub-Saharan African governments, universities and donor partners have all embraced ICT as a viable means for increasing access to education at all levels, and barriers to expanding its reach are coming down. However, major constraints relating primarily to bandwidth and computer resources remain, but there are also attempts underway to address them. There are also good models which can be drawn upon to develop a viable tertiarylevel engineering education programme for this region. In particular, the Open University in the UK and the distance learning programme of the University of South Africa both have extensive experience which would prove invaluable in developing such a programme. |
| Difficulty: |
Medium |
| Interactivity Level: |
Very low |
| Version Info | |
| Publication Date: | March 2008 |
| Platform/Format: |
Cross Platform |
| Cost: |
Not free |
| Download URL: | http://www.ijee.dit.ie/latestissues/Vol24-2/s17_ijee2040.pdf |
| Metadata: |
IEEE LOM Record |
| Collection: |
International Journal of Engineering Education
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