ICT in Universities of the Western Himalayan Region of India: Study of Networks, Performance and Efficiency

Abstract

The present paper describes a live project study carried out for the universities located in the western Himalayan region of India in the year 2009. The objective of this study is to undertake the task of assessment regarding initiative, utilization of ICT resources, its performance and impact in these higher educational institutions/universities. In order to answer these, initially basic four-tier framework was prepared. Followed by a questionnaire containing different ICT components 18 different groups like vision, planning, implementation, ICT infrastructure and related activities exhibiting performance. Primary data in the form of feedback on the five point scale, of the questionnaire, was gathered from six universities of the region. A simple statistical analysis was undertaken using weighted mean, to assess the ICT initiative, status and performance of various universities. In the process, a question related to Performance Indicator was identified from each group, whose Coefficient of Correlation was calculated. This study suggests that a progressive vision, planning and initiative regarding academic syllabi, ICT infrastructure, used in training the skilled human resource, is going to have a favourable impact through actual placement, research and play a dominant role at the National and International level.

ICT skills evaluation of faculty members in Kuwait; Preliminary findings

“…Other resources (such as WiFi and software applications) were less frequently available and used. This is similar to the findings of Sharma and Singh (2010) and Ansari and Zuberi (2010), who suggested providing ICT basic needs at their institutions. This also supports the findings of Buarki et al (2009) that the teaching faculty at the DLIS (one of the departments at PAAET) viewed the department as having a shortage of wireless technology and were complaining about the procedures for obtaining hardware and software.…”

“…Coordination among the departments in teaching some of these courses within the curriculum or as professional development courses would result in increasing the use of ICT among the students and faculty members as Sharma and Singh (2011) suggested. It appeared that the College of Basic Education was not an appealing environment for Internet access and ICT use, as the faculty accessed the Internet mainly from their homes.…”

“…Faculty members require these skills to accomplish their daily teaching duties, starting with students’ reports, grading, presentations, lecturing, research administration and departmental tasks. ICT skills also facilitate communication between faculty members and students that provides flexibility in learning and interaction (Sharma and Singh, 2011). In another study, applied to the same universities, using SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, it was recommended that adequate Internet bandwidth be provided along with the latest technology, and also that ICT-based connectivity be provided to share e-resources among the universities (Sharma and Singh, 2010).…”

Swot Anali̇zi̇: Mobi̇lya Sektörü Üzeri̇ne Bi̇r Araştirma

“…The SWOT analysis method is to extract information from an environmental analysis and to divide it into internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external problems (opportunities and threats). When the SWOT analysis is completed, it reveals what can help the business achieve its goals and what barriers must be overcome or minimized to achieve the desired results (Sharma & Singh, 2010).…”

IT Blueprint for Education Institution

“…SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis has proved to be a general tool at the preliminary stages of policy making and strategic planning of an organization and at a later stage as well, while analyzing the performance and planning for further development and progress of the organization [12].…”