The Massive Implementation of ICT in Universities and Its Implications for Ensuring SDG 4: Challenges and Difficulties for Professors

Celia Rangel-Pérez, María-José Gato-Bermúdez, Daniela Musicco-Nombela and Cristina Ruiz-Alberdi
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Celia Rangel-Pérez: Department of Applied Communication Studies, Faculty of Media and Communication Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
María-José Gato-Bermúdez: Postgraduate Pedagogy Department, Faculty of Humanities and Communication, San Pablo CEU University, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Daniela Musicco-Nombela: Department of Communication Studies, Faculty of Communication, Francisco de Vitoria University, 28223 Madrid, Spain
Cristina Ruiz-Alberdi: Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Psicology Francisco de Vitoria University, 28223 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: Education has undergone the greatest revolution since the 19th century. The pandemic has massively launched teaching towards the use of ICTs and online education. The main objective of this research is to study the relationship between the adaptation of university faculty to the massive use of ICTs and educational digitization, and the promotion of SDG 4, which establishes Target 4.3, ensuring access to quality university education. To achieve this, a descriptive study methodology is used, in which the results of a validated survey, on a sample of 245 teachers from 32 public and private Spanish universities, were analyzed. The main results consist of the different emotional reactions among professors, finding that, on the one hand, ICTs allow for the development of new skills, the introduction of new methodological proposals, and the development of a positive attitude towards the use of digital tools in order to reach all of their students. However, on the other hand, the results also show that the use of ICTs caused an increase in anxiety, workloads, and the need for ongoing training. There is a need to continue improving the digital competencies of faculty professors in order to favor access to ICTs by university students and, thus, promote quality education worldwide.

Keywords: blended learning; Goal 4; SDG; university; digital divide; university professors; ICT (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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