The impact of ICT in public and private universities in Sudan

S. Nour

Research output: Book/ReportReportAcademic

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Abstract

This paper examines the impacts of ICT in public and private Sudanese
universities. We verify the first and third hypotheses that the use of
ICT facilitates connection, networks and collaboration within public and
private universities in Sudan, with local, regional and international
institutions. We support the second hypothesis that the use of ICT
enhances access, production and dissemination of knowledge in Sudanese
universities. We support the fourth hypothesis that the use of ICT
introduces a 'creative-destruction' effect by providing opportunities
for knowledge production, building connection and organizational
changes; but simultaneously also creates hazards to knowledge production
and building disconnection for those who do not share the knowledge in
public and private Sudanese universities. We show that the most
important advantages linked to using the Internet for enhancing
production, creation and transfer of knowledge include the increase of
digital knowledge for academic and researchers, the rapid quantitative
and qualitative increase in transferring information, the development of
new models for disseminating and distributing electronic information,
and the increase of free access to electronic publications for academic
purposes. We find that the main problem related to using the Internet is
the lack of a regular budget for university libraries to pay for
licenses and access to scientific and technical information.

Key words: ICT; ICT demand; ICT impacts; public-private universities;
knowledge; Sudan
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationMaastricht
PublisherUNU-MERIT
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014

Publication series

SeriesUNU-MERIT Working Papers
Number018

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