Speaker
Description
Richard, I.
Delta State College of Education, Mosogar
richard.igbunu@descoem.edu.ng
Track: Digital Transformation in Higher Education
Digital technology is an off-shoot of computer technology that has produced profound impact on nations’ education advancement. The global upsurge in the application of digital technologies has transformed higher education globally by enhancing teaching, learning, and research activities in the institutions of higher learning. Nonetheless, the digital divide remains a significant challenge in most developing countries, with the inclusion of Nigeria. The divide manifests by way of an unequal access to information and communication technologies (ICTs), internet connectivity reach, digital literacy, and weak or failed technological infrastructure. This paper examines the role of digital innovations in bridging the digital divide and for advancing research outcomes in Nigerian higher educational institutions like the Colleges of Education. The study discusses fundamental digital innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, digital libraries, open educational resources (OERs), learning management systems (LMS), big data analytics, and research collaboration platforms. The study highlights the opportunities provided by these technologies in enhancing research productivity, collaboration, knowledge dissemination, and academic excellence. The paper concludes that strategic investments by stakeholders in digital infrastructure, policy implementation, and human capacity building are essential for leveraging digital innovations to improving research outcomes and to reducing digital inequalities and bridging the divide in Nigerian higher education.