CHALLENGES OF DIGITAL LEARNING FOR DISTANCE UNIVERSITIES OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Distance universities of Pakistan are now trying to reshape their system of instruction by moving towards digital learning. This movement towards digital learning has many challenges ahead for academics and administration of these distance universities. Therefore the main focus of the present study was to explore instructional and technical challenges of digital learning for academics and administration of these distance universities of Pakistan. Study was qualitative in nature based on phenomenological design. The study was delimited to Allama Iqbal Open University and Virtual University from Islamabad region as these universities are providing a distance mode of learning on a large scale throughout Pakistan. The population of the study was comprised of 31 academics from the Faculties of Education and 2 ICT directors, 2 library incharges from the administrations of these distance universities. A Sami-structured interview was conducted with the participants consisted of 12 questions. The results of the study identified challenges for digital learning, including; needs of diverse online learning resources for distance learners, training of academics on the development of e-content, lack of access to digital technologies and the costs incurred. Various recommendations are offered to overcome digital learning challenges of these distance universities in Pakistan.