Technology and collaboration as strategic drivers shaping higher education

Abstract

as strategic drivers. 8,9 However, despite technology and collaboration emerging as pertinent issues in higher education, it is unclear – whether they could be labelled strategic drivers for HEIs in South Africa. In other words, are technology and collaboration regarded as powerful agents of change able to shift the strategic landscape of the higher education sector? Affirming these as strategic drivers will not only make HEIs aware of these drivers but also alert institutions to include technology and collaboration in their strategic thrusts towards the socio-economic agenda. In conducting this study, an interpretivist paradigm with a qualitative research approach was used, followed by a qualitative survey 10,11 as a research strategy. Semi-structured interviews with 17 senior management-level staff from eight South African HEIs were conducted. Research participants were purposively selected, and data were then analysed by means of conventional content analysis, 12 assisted by ATLAS.ti. Strategic drivers are the most powerful agents of change not only altering industries, but also the strategic landscape of South African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Within this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world, technology and collaboration and its interrelatedness seems most profound for HEIs. Therefore, exploring the impact of technology and collaboration as strategic drivers would allow South African HEIs to serve its socio-economic purpose more effectively. In support of this aim, an interpretive paradigm, employing qualitative methods, was pursued. A qualitative survey design was utilised whereby semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 research participants occupying senior management positions at seven public and one private South African HEI. Data were analysed in applying conventional content analysis with the assistance of Atlas ti. The results confirmed technology and collaboration as strategic drivers and to be critical for South African HEIs. Especially the importance technology was emphasised by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, while technology also render collaboration more accessible for HEIs. To this end, South African HEIs have to rethink strategy post COVID-19 in using technology to enhance technology integrated teaching and learning practices within the realm of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Furthermore, to also collaborate nationally and internationally to ultimately develop the higher education sector.