Impact of information technology in academia

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the provisions of information technology (IT) for development of academic resources and examines the effect of IT in academic institutions for sharing information.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the role of IT in sharing information in academic institutions and explores the IT effectiveness in an academic context that is used to improve efficiency and effectiveness of creation and sharing of information among people.

Findings

The paper finds that the rapid pace of change in IT is increasingly influencing the creation, publication and dissemination of educational materials and sharing information. IT facilitates connections across disciplinary, institutional, geographical, and cultural boundaries. Taken together, the computational and communication capabilities in IT offer great promise for supporting continual improvements in academia. They also underscore the need for credible research into the practical benefits and limitations of teaching and learning in settings enchanced by IT.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful suggestions for colleges and universities, which must recognize that, increasingly, the influence and demands of their respective IT ventures extend beyond physical locations that include remote or distance learners, part‐time students, collaborations with industry and consortia of other institutions. The construction of a unified IT infrastructure should be responsive to the needs of all its users in academia. IT development and implementation must demonstrate definable benefits to academia.

Citation

Ranjan, J. (2008), "Impact of information technology in academia", International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 22 No. 5, pp. 442-455. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513540810883177