INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT: AN INTEGRATION APPROACH FOR YEMENI UNIVERSITIES
ADNAN SHARAF AL-ABSI *
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, 66, Ivan Mihailov Street, 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The paper presents a strategic vision for the integration of IT in the academic environment in Yemen considering the infrastructure, the human factor, and the state policy related to educational reform. It emphasizes the goal of the application of technologies in the process of learning and teaching and adapts familiar integration models to suit specific university needs. Reasons are presented and discussed for favoring the choice of blended over web-delivered education. On the basis of previous case studies, an outline is made of the degree of readiness of university administrative staff, faculty members, and students to adopt IT as an integral part of education. Suggestions are put forward for solving the immediate problems associated with the human factor based on a survey conducted among university students on their readiness and overall perception of the integration of IT in higher education. Evidence is presented that the provision of adequate infrastructure is a matter of state policy, not an autonomous decision-making process of university presidents.
Keywords: Blended education, web-supported education, IT integration, educational content, assessment