Challenges of digital transformation in university education The Republic of Yemen and ways to overcome it

Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the challenges of digitalization, which university education encounters in Yemen by identifying the roles which universities play in the field of digitalization. In addition, the study aimed at identifying the ways of overcoming such challenges to keep with the digital age. The study followed the descriptive survey approach as the main instrument for collecting the data. It also followed content analysis method for the reports and documents obtained from the Yemeni universities as sample of the study, plus related literature, and local and international reports. Results of the study concluded that digitalization in Yemeni universities faces several challenges, most important of which are lack of technical structure, low quality of  the internet, high cost of it, it is limited to main cities, internal regulations are issued lately, poor connection of network and information systems, automation in most of the Yemeni universities though those universities urgently need to develop and update their education systems in order to keep up with the requirements of the digital age, in addition to the lack of electronic education system in most of the Yemeni universities. The study recommended that it is necessary to spread the culture of digitalization, and provide a political desire, establish legislations and regulations which can regulate digitalization in university education in Yemen. Telecommunication companies must qualify services and facilitate the ways of getting them. Telecom companies must enforce the required infrastructure of telecommunication in universities and colleges and connect them to internet networks to pave the way for digitalization.