Assessment Of Information And Communication Technology Support For Interdisciplinary Research Ecosystem In Nigerian Universities – A Survey

Abstract

Scientific research and technological innovations are key drivers of development and socioeconomic influence. Diverse advanced information and communication technology (ICT) innovations are revolutionizing processes to solving complex problems including those of research in interdisciplinary scope. This study evaluated scholars’ knowledge of ICT tools/interdisciplinary research (IDR), capacity index for using ICT in IDR, impacts of ICT in IDR ecosystem & institutional ICT infrastructural provision in promoting the culture of interdisciplinary research ecosystem across Nigerian universities. This was a cross-sectional study design using structured questionnaire of 5-point lickert scale for data collection. It drew participants from Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike and Ebonyi State University Abakaliki with sample size of 185 scholars purposively selected during academic board & associations’ meetings. Data was analyzed based on percentage and mean rating (MNR) using SPSS software. On knowledge of ICT tools/interdisciplinary research (MNR: 3.51–3.95); scholars involvement in IDR (MNR: 3.21–3.34); capacity for ICT support tools (MNR: 3.07–3.95); institutional ICT support tools (MNR: 2.43–2.92); roles/impact of ICT on IDR ecosystem (MNR: 3.55–4.48). The study found that scholars’ knowledge of ICT tools/IDR was fair, whereas capacity for utilizing ICTs was poor & gross inadequacy of ICT support tools in the universities. This significant gap in capacity for ICTs/IDR and gross inadequacy of ICT support tools are critical factors contributing to declining interest/involvement of scholars in IDR. We recommends articulated comprehensive ICT capacity enhancement training intervention for scholars & university authorities prioritizing actions geared towards rapid scaling up of ICT infrastructures.