International Education Studies

Vol. 3, No. 2; May 2010

The Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Delivering Higher Education – A Case of Bangladesh
Shah Md. Safiul Hoque (Corresponding author)
School of Business Studies, Southeast University
House # 64, Road # 18, Block # B, Banani, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
Tel: 880-181-758-9168

E-mail: hoque70@gmail.com

S. M. Shafiul Alam
School of Business Studies, Southeast University
House # 64, Road # 18, Block # B, Banani, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
Tel: 880-172-064-4801

E-mail: shafistore@yahoo.com

Abstract
At present a new era has evolved in the education sector by means of ICTS. Different ICTs are now set to become instrumental to help expand access to education, strengthen the relevance of education to the increasingly digital workplace, and raise educational quality by, among others, helping make teaching and learning into an engaging, active process connected to real life. The application and exposure to and deployment of ICTs fundamentally change the way education is conceived and delivered to students. ICTs are enablers that optimize student-centered pedagogical methods. Due to its easy accessibility this means of education has become very popular all over the world. Distance education has got a thrust after the evolution of ICT-based education system. This paper intends to give an idea about ICT-based higher education all over the globe and its applicability in Bangladesh. Finally, it analyses the responses from different user groups to query about the current status of the ICT-based higher education system Bangladesh.
Keywords: ICTs, ICT-based / virtual education, Distance education, Higher education
1. Introduction
Education is the backbone of a nation. Despite knowing this, a huge number of people of least developed countries are far beyond the reach of higher education. One of the key reasons may be the poor economic condition of those countries. Perhaps this is the crucial challenge to be addressed by those nations for overall development where education may be on the top list. Information, Knowledge, and Communication Technology also play vital role in the growth as well as producing and offering goods and services at relatively reduced costs.
Smart use of ICTs can process information, create knowledgebase and make them available wherever and whenever necessary. But despite having relatively poor economic condition, Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) in most cases have tremendous success in providing services at reduced costs to the people’s door steps. ICTs have the same to do for making the higher education available to all classes of people throughout the country at a lower cost. As a result, on one hand people will have the access right on higher education and on the other hand will gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and experiences to serve the nation and prosper accordingly.
In 21st century, one can hardly find a country where higher education through distance mode is not available. In fact it has been practiced since long before. But at present days, having revolution of ICTs, the higher education through distance mode has been more practical and well accepted by the all people around the globe. It is now being called Virtual learning. In developed country, people are getting more interested in learning through
Virtual Campus than that of a Brick-and-Mortar Campus. Virtual Campus is nothing but ICT enabled campus, where students are attending their classes, discussing with teachers, accessing learning resources, seating exams, joining forums/clubs, submitting assignments etc virtually having the facility of real-time interactions between teacher and students. (Figure 1)
1.1. Definition of terms
ICTs: ICTs stand for Information and Communication Technologies. According to Blurton, C ICT is defined as “diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate,