COLLINS FOSU AND KWABENA OBIRI YEBOAH KNUST KUMASI
COLLINS FOSU AND KWABENA OBIRI YEBOAH KNUST KUMASI, GHANA Internet Access in Research and Educational Institutions in Africa.
PRESENTATION OUTLINE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF STUDY OBJECTIVES OF STUDY BANDWITH AT THE UNIVERSITIES CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
BACKGROUND � According to the Data Development Group of the World Bank, ICT infrastructure in Ghana is progressing as compared to other lowincome countries globally and above the 1. 1% average for Sub Saharan Africa (Martey, 2004). � The government of Ghana and other agencies have over the years made several strides to develop the ICT infrastructure so as to bridge the digital divide between Ghana and the developed world.
DEFINITION CNTD. � The introduction of ICT into universities has changed the way education and research is conducted. � ICT paves the way for a new pedagogical approach, where students are expected to play a more active role than before (Alabi, 2004). � ICT enhances research, teaching and learning in campuses in a variety of ways.
BACKGROUND � There have been a number of factors impeding the wholesale uptake of ICT in education across all sectors. These include; � lack of funding for the necessary infrastructure, � lack of training among established teaching and research practitioners, � lack of motivation and need among teachers and researchers to adopt ICT as a tool (Starr, 2001). � Inadequate Bandwidth for internet access.
BACKGROUND � The high cost of bandwidth, inadequate and unreliable telecommunication services and applications still remains a major challenge. � Moreover even when service providers offer bandwidths to educational institutions it is most often unreliable with low service availability times. � According to Aguele (2007), until universities in developing countries in Africa come together on country basis to demand a dedicated pipe for direct supply the issue of service providers surcharging them may never end.
BACKGROUND CNTD. � But in recent times, factors have emerged which have strengthened and encouraged moves to adopt ICTs into classrooms and research settings. � These include: �A growing need to explore efficiencies in terms of program delivery, � The opportunities for flexible delivery provided by ICTs (Oliver & Short, 1997),
� The capacity of technology to provide support for customized educational programs to meet the needs of individual learners (Kennedy & Mc. Naught, 1997), � The growing use of the Internet and World Wide Web as tools for information access and communication (Oliver & Towers, 1999), � According to the Data Development Group of the World Bank, ICT infrastructure in Ghana is progressing as compared to other low-income countries globally and above the 1. 1% average for Sub Saharan Africa (Martey, 2004). � The government of Ghana and other agencies have over the years made several strides to develop the ICT infrastructure so as to bridge the digital divide between Ghana and the developed world.
ICT STATUS AT THE THREE UNIVERSITIES University of Cape-Coast (UCC) � � � UCC currently has a point to point fibre optic network and linked the major departments and research units to the computing centre that serves as the hub of the network. The university Network is linked to the international gateway by 4 mbs link to Ghana Telecom. The university has two campuses, southern campus and northern campus. The two campuses are linked by a point to point 2. 4 GHz wireless radio which provides a bandwidth of 54 mb/s. The computing Centre provides web directory and email services to the staff and student of the university. The unit also maintains and update the university website and email directory.
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE-COAST (UCC) UCC started with a modest bandwidth of 64 kbs in 1996 and has a total bandwidth of 4 mbs as at December 2009. � Bandwidth in the nineties was expensive and therefore the university could purchase a few megabit of international gateway. � However, with the introduction of the International Fiber Optic Gateway (SAT 3), UCC was able to purchase 128 kbs in the Year 2004. In the Year 2006 the university for the first time could afford 1 mbs. � Within three years the university has been able to quadruple its bandwidth to 4 mbs. �
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE-COAST (UCC) ICT Resource Allocation � UCC as at 2009 spends 26 % of its total ICT Central expenditure on bandwidth. � This left 74% for ICT infrastructure and maintenance. � The 74 % of its budget was pushed into the maintenance of the ICT Centre. � The student technology fee constituted 32 % of the total ICT central income and the 68 % was from foreign student fees and Internal Generated Fund.
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE-COAST (UCC) Total Bandwidth (megabit/second) 4. 5 Bandwidth Capacity, 1996 - 2009 - UCC 4 3. 5 3 2. 5 2 1. 5 1 0. 5 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Year 2006 2007 2008 2009
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE-COAST (UCC) Ratio of Bandwidth costs to Total ICT Expenditure - UCC 26% University ICT Central Expenditure - Bandwidth University ICT Central Expenditure - Other 74%
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE-COAST (UCC) ICT Expenditure - Income Sources (UCC) 32% ICT Income from Student payments ICT Income from Other sources (Dollar a/c, IGF etc) 68%
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA (UG) UG currently has a fibre optic that links all departments and research units to the Network Operation Centre. � About, 30% of the network is connected to digital subscriber line system which has a 2 mbs bandwidth. � The university Network is linked to the international gateway by 10 mbs link to Ghana Telecom and 7 mbs redundancy VSAT link. � The university links its 3 campuses by a multi-point to point 2. 4 GHz wireless radios which provides a bandwidth of 54 mb/s to each of the campuses. �
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA (UG) � UG started with a modest bandwidth of 64 kbs in 1996 and has a total bandwidth of 17 mbs as at December 2009. � Bandwidth in the first eight years was expensive and therefore the university could purchase a few megabit of international gateway. � However, with the introduction of international Fiber optic gateway (SAT 3), UG was able to afford 2 mbs in the Year 2004/2005
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA (UG) ICT Resource Allocation � UG as at 2009 spends 57% of its total ICT Central expenditure on bandwidth. � This left 43% for ICT infrastructure and Maintenance. � The student technology fee constituted 60 % of the total ICT central income and the 40 % was from foreign student fees and Internal Generated Fund. � It is clearly seen that student levy was key in supporting bandwidth growth on campus.
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA (UG) Total Bandwidth (megabit/second) 18 Bandwidth Capacity, 1996 - 2009 - UG 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Year
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA (UG) Ratio of Bandwidth costs to Total ICT Expenditure - UG University ICT Central Expenditure - Bandwidth University ICT Central Expenditure - Other 43% 57%
THE NATURE OF MANAGEMENT ICT Expenditure - Income Sources (UG) 40% ICT Income from Student payments 60% ICT Income from Other sources (Dollar a/c, IGF etc)
KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST) � � � KNUST currently has a fully redundant fibre optic network which links all departments and research units to the Network Operation Centre. The university Network is linked to the international gateway by 10 mbs link to Vodafone Sat 3 fibre network and 3 mbs VSAT redundant link. The Clinical Hostel is linked to the main campus by a point to point 2. 4 GHz wireless radios providing a bandwidth of 54 mb/s for intranet and internet application. The university has currently linked all students’ residential facilities with wireless hotspot facility. The university currently hosts the online national repository of the country. Thesis, journals, “The Ghana collections’’ and other educational materials all over the country are being converted from hard copy to digital copies.
KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST) � KNUST started with a modest bandwidth of 64 kbs in 1999 and has a total bandwidth of 13 mbs as at December 2009. � Bandwidth in the first six years was expensive and therefore the university could purchase a few megabit of international gateway. � However, with the introduction of International Fiber Optic Gateway (SAT 3), KNUST could afford 3 mbs in the Year 2005.
KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST) ICT Resource Allocation � KNUST as at 2009 spends 70% of its total ICT Central expenditure on bandwidth. � This left 30% for ICT infrastructure and Maintenance. � The student technology fee constituted 34 % of the total ICT central income and the 66 % was from foreign student fees and Internal Generated Fund. � It was clearly seen that student levy was key in supporting bandwidth growth on campus.
KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST)
KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST)
KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KNUST)
CONCLUSION The study concludes that in order to manage ICT effectively and efficiently, the university management must have a business aligned IT policy with total stakeholder involvement and ownership. Additionally, it was also realised that the challenges facing ICT management can be solved if the problems are prioritized and the solution properly planned. The researcher also realised that proper management of ICT and its related challenges can give the prospective university a competitive advantage over its peers. � �
RECOMENDATIONS � Align IT Strategy with the university’s strategic objectives � Establish a Comprehensive ICT Policy � Prioritise ICT Governance and Leadership � Formation of Consortia for Bandwidth � Formation of Educational Research Network � Funding Priority
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