Speaker
Description
Akpan, G. F.
Akwa Ibom state college of Education now Akwa Ibom state university of Education
akpangody4@yahoo.com
Track: Inclusion, Equity and Digital Access
The increasing digitalization of higher education has transformed how knowledge is accessed, produced, and disseminated across the globe. Yet, the promise of digital innovation remains unevenly realized, particularly in the Global South, where structural inequalities continue to shape educational opportunities. While existing studies on the digital divide have largely emphasised access to digital technologies and infrastructure, comparatively less attention has been paid to the gendered dimensions of digital literacy and their implications for participation in academic knowledge production. Drawing on insights from gender studies and literacy scholarship, this paper argues that digital inclusion extends beyond access to encompass the ability to critically and meaningfully engage with digital literacy, and that disparities in digital literacy development and academic confidence influence learners' participation within higher education. Through a critical review of relevant literature, the paper highlights the ways in which gender continues to mediate engagement with emerging digital learning environments. It contends that bridging the digital divide requires a shift from access-centred approaches to gender-responsive, critical digital literacy interventions that promote equitable knowledge production and digital citizenship. Such interventions are essential for fostering more inclusive higher education systems and for ensuring that digital innovation contributes to educational equity and social transformation in the Global South.