Role and Contribution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Open and Distance Learning (ODL), and Open Educational Resources (OERs)

The African Higher Education and Research Space (AHERS) seeks to create opportunities for institutional, national, regional and continental collaboration using, as the driving force, the common challenges experienced by higher education institutions in Africa. Several aspects have been identified for fostering collaboration. Among them, promoting open and distance learning (ODL) to improve access to tertiary education and effective use of information and communication technology (ICT). This report, which is based exclusively on desk research, explores how ODL and ICT, as well as use of open education resources (OERs), can serve to strengthen and sustain AHERS. This is done by providing a description and analysis of opportunities and challenges in current practice in the use of ICT, ODL, and OERs in African higher education. Policy issues in these three areas are also discussed. The report concludes with recommendations on how key regional and continental Africa higher education bodies and development partners can adopt ICT, ODL and OERs to strengthen and sustain AHERS.