Students’ expectations for the higher education digital learning environment: a case of Ghana

Abstract

The ubiquity of digital technologies in life, work and learning are changing the expectations that students have of higher education institutions. In the world of work, the increased use of digital technologies is generating new demands on the curriculum to account for changing skills that required of current graduates. Therefore, higher education institutions need to understand students’ expectations to meet their needs. A survey was conducted among 1937 students at three institutions. The survey instrument comprised closed and open-ended items designed by the UK-based Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) about their expectations of institutional digital learning environment. The findings indicated that only few students in higher education institutions in Ghana have access to institutional digital resources and devices whenever they needed them. They expect the presence of more digital technology in the learning environment and at the course level. Further, they expect lecturers to teach them the digital skills needed for the workplace. We therefore suggest the expression of employability skills in context of the subject disciplines.