Digital higher education internationalization in Ethiopia: The practice of three Ethiopian public universities

• In Event: Digital Learning in Higher Education: Examining Environments, Engagement, and Empowerment

Proposal

Wubnesh Shiferaw Benti*
*Corresponding Author: Wubnesh Shiferaw Benti Email: wubneshbnt9@gmail.com
PhD Candidate of International and Comparative Education, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Abstract

Digitalization and internationalization are deeply interconnected forces shaping the higher education system globally. While they present challenges, they also offer unprecedented opportunities for creating a more inclusive, global and accessible educational landscape. There is an immense potential of transforming the global higher education landscape when digitalization and internationalization effectively and properly intersects. However, realizing this potential requires addressing several challenges posed by the efforts in the digitalization of the higher education system. While digital tools and platforms can facilitate international collaboration, expand access to education and expand cross-border academic and research engagement, significant issues remain in ensuring equitable access, addressing cultural sensitivity and linguistic barriers, and promoting inclusion. This paper analyzed the digitalization of higher education internationalization in Ethiopia. The experience of digital internationalization among the North HEIs was analyzed to evaluate the experience of the three HEIs from Ethiopia. Data was generated from review of literature on digital internationalization of the North, analyzed relevant national level higher education documents and conducted key informant interviews with faculty members and leaders of three Ethiopian public universities, namely Addis Ababa University, Jimma University and Hawassa University. Thematic analysis of data was undertaken based on emerging issues and themes from literature. The findings indicated that digitalization of higher education has been supported by policies and a number of digital tools and platforms have been integrated at the institution level including the establishment of digital libraries, digitalizing learning, assessment and support systems, and improved connectivity. And yet, digital internationalization is not sufficiently addressed in important documents. The findings also revealed that internationalization is not systematically digitized in the three institutions. Even though there are efforts to digitize some aspects of higher education functions, mainly introduced because of Covid-19, it is not an organized and systematic initiative. The experience further divides HEIs in the South and North adding to the already existing inequality where students from less technologically advanced countries like Ethiopia face barriers to accessing digital international education due to poor internet connectivity, lack of resources and limited digital literacy. Even if Ethiopian higher education institutions attempt digitalization of contents, their capacity of ensuring a secure digital environment safe from cybersecurity risks and data privacy remains nascent. These HEIs face a number of challenges including resource constraints and yet, digital internationalization is a cost-effective mechanism especially for internationalization at home, an attribute that is recommended for higher education in the South.
Keywords:- digitalization, digital higher education internationalization, digital divide

Author

• Wubnesh Shiferaw Benti, Education and Training Authority