Digital experiences of higher education students in Ghana: how does it compare

Abstract

The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) in 2018 conducted an international pilot study on higher education students’ digital experience. The study aimed at examining students’ experiences of the higher education digital learning environment. The rationale was that, it is reasonable to understand students’ experiences with digital technology in the learning environment to reflect digital provision, digital integration into subject disciplines and to develop students’ digital skills for study and living in the 21st century. Questionnaires were distributed to students in 89 higher education institutions (HEIs) in eleven countries including Ghana. In this study, we used univariate analysis. Data from the pilot study assist in interpreting the students’ digital lives, their experiences of digital infrastructure in the institutions and digital activities in course. This paper compares results of key metrics of the questionnaire among three countries out of a set of 21 clustered studies of countries that participated in the JISC higher education insight survey. The general question addressed here is: What are the digital experiences of higher education students. We present benchmarked data of Ghana against the UK and Australia and suggest next step for infrastructure, digital integration and skills development. Based on this paper also reviews digital experiences of higher education students in the digital learning environment