ICTs FOR HIGHER EDUCATION COMFORTABLE AND UNCOMFORTABLE ZONES

Abstract

There is no escape for higher education from using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for all learning, teaching and administrative purposes of the institutes. UNESCO calls it a necessity and a panacea for many global problems like education for all. Higher educational institutions in developing world face somewhat similar problems like their counterparts in the developed world. However; shortage of resources and political instability adds a serious dimension to this agenda in the developing countries. These technologies offer several opportunities, which are conditioned with several factors mostly related to the indigenous environment. Pakistan is digitizing very quickly however, there are several threats, which are either impeding the progress or slowing it down to miserable levels of performance. Given the existence of uncomfortable zone in use of ICTs, there is need to ensure adequate management of ICTs projects right from the policy formulation through participative requirements, analysis, design, implementation, and timely up-gradation of the ICT-based systems. Unless a customized comfortable zone is created, there cannot be an aggregate uptake of ICTs into the economy.