Abstract

This study aimed to investigate how adoption and diffusion of eLearning infrastructure such as hardware and software may be the solution to increasing access to higher education in Malawi using the eLearning centre based at Chancellor College as a case study. It sought to identify challenges affecting adoption and diffusion of eLearning and establish how availability, accessibility and usability of the ICT resources affects students’ learning. The study was prompted by the report that eLearning could be a solution to the problem of increasing number of students who qualify for higher education in a given year but fail to get into college due to the limited available bed and classroom space (USAID, 2019). The study used a combination of United Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Information Infrastructure (II) theory to analyse effects of ICT resources on students’ eLearning. The research used qualitative research method approach to get an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon from multiple angles. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 25 respondents and document analysis supplemented data collection. A convenience sampling technique was used to collect data from 3 staff within the eLearning centre and 22 students pursuing various programmes at certificate, diploma and degree levels. Data was collected between December 2020 and February 2021. Interviews were conducted with staff of the eLearning centre and a physical ICT infrastructure assessment for eLearning was undertaken. The study finds that delivery of programmes using the eLearning approach under the Pan African Project based at Chancellor College faces a myriad of challenges, which include lack of internet connectivity, financial constraints, inadequate computers and inadequate support for infrastructure. These challenges in turn affect the performance of students at the eLearning centre. However, the results of the findings of this research indicate that although the eLearning centre based at Chancellor College has inadequate eLearning ICT infrastructure, there is room for improvement if support was increased towards training of staff, procurement of equipment and increasing bandwidth. The results indicate that eLearning can be used as a solution to increasing intake of students who qualify to get admitted in higher education institutions in Malawi.

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School	: School of Natural and Applied Sciences
Issued Date	: 2021

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