Speaker
Description
Chukwurah, C. C.
NWAFOR ORIZU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, NSUGBE, ANAMBRA STATE
cccchukwurah@gmail.com
Track: Digital Transformation in Higher Education
Reimagining STEM higher education in Nigeria through smart digital transformation for educators was the focus of this study, carried out in three federal tertiary institutions in Anambra State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, the research population comprised 300 STEM educators in the selected institutions, from which 100 participants were purposively sampled. Data were collected with the Smart Digital Transformation for Educators Questionnaire (SDTEQ) - an instrument developed for this study to measure digital advancement, smart education integration, and educator readiness - and analyzed using SPSS. Findings indicate that smart digital transformation significantly enhances STEM higher education by improving access to educational resources, fostering interactive and learner-centred environments, increasing instructional effectiveness, and strengthening learners’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Major barriers to effective implementation included inadequate technological infrastructure, poor internet connectivity, limited funding, and insufficient continuous professional development for educators. The study concludes that purposeful integration of smart educational technologies is essential to elevate STEM higher education and prepare graduates for the twenty-first-century digital economy. It recommends sustained investment in digital infrastructure and structured, ongoing professional development for educators by government and relevant stakeholders.
Keywords: Reimagining; STEM higher education; Nigeria; Smart digital transformation; Educators; Smart educational technologies; Digital infrastructure; Professional development.