Digital technologies and remote teaching during COVID-19 pandemic in African higher education institutions

Abstract

Digital transformation of higher educational institutions (HEIs) in Africa has been a discussion issue in many fora across several African countries, yet with little investment commitment from the government. Interestingly, the outbreak of COVID-19 with the attendant lockdown paved the way to transition to online teaching and learning. Using the dynamic capability theory, this chapter aims to explore the role of digitalisation on pedagogy among African HEIs during the COVID-19 lockdown. Semi-structured interviews comprised data collected from 15 academics from three African countries (Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria). The study found that the implementation of digital technologies in remote teaching differed across African HEIs during the COVID-19 lockdown. This study offers theoretical and practical recommendations to accelerate the digitalisation of HEIs in Africa.