The impact of ICT in the transformation and production of knowledge in Sudan
Samia S. O. M. Nour
#2010-063
This paper focuses on the impact of ICT in the transformation and
production of knowledge, notably in Sudan, and discusses the importance
of the use of ICT in Khartoum University. It considers how the use of
ICT, in particular the Internet, facilitates connections, networks and
communication within knowledge institutions in Sudan and regional and
international institutions and enhances collaboration between Sudanese
universities and others, and its integration in the system of global
knowledge production. Research results reinforce the idea that using ICT
enhances access, production and dissemination of knowledge in Khartoum
University. Finally, our findings support the hypothesis that the use of
ICT introduces positive and negative effects by providing opportunities
for the transformation and production of knowledge but simultaneously
also creates hazards in this transformation and knowledge production:
positive transformations include building connections and organizational
changes; while the negative transformation is the building
disconnections for those who do not know how to use ICT. We find that
the most important advantage related to the use of the Internet for
facilitating connections and transformations involve increasing digital
knowledge for academic researchers by finding information that was not
earlier accessible and the rapid quantitative and qualitative increases
in transferring available information. In addition to the development of
new models for disseminating and distributing electronic information,
there is an increase in the creation and transfer of knowledge and an
increase in free access to electronic publications for academic
purposes. The most serious problem related to the use of the Internet is
the lack of regular or inadequate budgets for university libraries to
pay for access to scientific and technical information and obtain
licences or subscriptions to relevant material.
Keywords: ICT use, ICT impact, knowledge production, transformation,
Sudan
JEL classification: O10, O12, O30