Volume 6 : Issue 3 (2019)

An Assessment of E-Learning Readiness of Academic Staff And Students of Higher Education Institutions in Gujarat, India

Gujarat state has many prestigious higher education institutions which are inclined towards using e-learning platform. In order to ensure that the stakeholders derive optimum benefit from this platform there is a serious need to conduct cross-sectional studies to assess their eLearning readiness. This study is an attempt in this direction.Data was collected (physical/e-form) through a self-developed questionnaire from the accessible sample of 83 faculties, 153 students and 12 lab administrators belonging to 35 colleges which are using the e-learning practices. Frequency, percentage and intensity index were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study reveal that, most of the stakeholders have positive opinion regarding the infrastructure available to adopt e-learning practices but feel that there is a need for improvement in the facilities. Majority of the stakeholders have a positive perception towards concept of e-learning and believe that elearning has many benefits and they also felt that e-learning helps to a less extent in maintaining transparency, reduces face to face contact and interactivity. These factors may hinder their readiness towards e-learning. Also unreliable technology and lack of faculties’ confidence and expertise to use this platform in teaching environment are seen as biggest barriers in e-learning. Hence, there is an immediate need to plan for training programmes which will help in improving the confidence of faculties in using this platform and would increase their e-learning readiness.

Higher Education, E-learning, Information and communication technology (ICT), elearning readiness.