Electronic learning and the digital divide in Sudan: an empirical analysis of e-learning adoption in Sudan during COVID-19 and the Sudanese revolution, Dr Omer Gibreel, Prof. Abdelgadir Abdalla

Dr Omer Gibreel
Gulf University for Science and Technology
Kuwait
Email: Gibreel.o@gust.edu.kw
Prof. Abdelgadir Abdalla
Lusail University
Qatar

Abstract

With the advent of the information age and the growth of the internet, many countries worldwide looked into ways to incorporate novice innovation from information technology into their educational system. In tandem with the growth of this new form of innovation in learning, the national innovation system in the Middle East and North Africa faced two main obstacles: policies that support the acceptance of novice innovation and bridging the digital divide. Our study looks into the adoption of e-learning systems in Sudan and provides policies that would help increase the adoption of e-learning systems in Sudan. At the macro level, the study points out a strong need for a public-private partnership to support innovation in e-learning, especially with the advent of pandemics such as COVID-19 and civil unrest. The partnership should work on lowering internet costs (Internet mobile service provider side) and internet taxation costs (government side) for students who use the internet to access e-learning and universities that implement e-learning systems. At the micro-level(student level), performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and Price value all showed a positive relationship with intention to use.
Keywords: E-learning, Sustainability, Civil Unrest, Information System, Digital divide, ICT4D, Knowledge Management.