Potential of ICT To Facilitate Digital Learning, Profiling and Distant Education in an Emerging Countries

Presenting a paper on the “potential of ICT to facilitate digital learning, social profiling and distant education in emerging countries” at Nordic Africa conference Uppsala, Sweden

The Internet no doubt has revolutionized the way most people in the developed world live. For the most part, it has formed an integral part of both the economic, political, and social lives, altering the way we purchase goods, the way we bank, and the way we communicate with one another, the way we build friendship and networks, the way we get job opportunities and even the way we become well known or famous. But despite this astonishing advanced usage of ICT and internet technologies and the corresponding benefits it provides, opportunities as such have not been distributed equally across emerging countries. These disparities, no 30 doubt have caused emerging nations to miss out on the tremendous political, social, economic, educational, and career opportunities created by the digital revolution.

The Africa Diaspora, however, aware of these challenges and the opportunities that are available in the use of ICT in profiling and fostering distance learning, are constantly examining the ICTs and particularly the prevalent social media platforms and are devising strategy to create more awareness among the African scholars to benefit from this technologies and to encourage them in building a strong social media presence that will fosters distance learning, increase their web profile and provide a platform for building collaborations, partnerships and knowledge networks.

Therefore, the authors debate will highlight more on the importance of fostering digital opportunities and social inclusion by enhancing the use of ICTs for profiling, capacity-building, empowerment, governance and social participation; to strengthen capacities for scientific research, information sharing and building collaborations and partnerships to enhance learning opportunities through access to diversified contents and delivery systems to support the transformation to knowledge societies.