Abstract:
The ubiquity of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have considerably transformed the higher
educational landscape and are now providing an increasing number of novel and dynamic pathways for education
delivery. The steady growth of flexible and affordable ICTs is impacting upon the higher education domain
resulting in a departure from traditional education systems to more technologically driven forms of pedagogy.
The purpose of this study was to investigate how best to exploit the available ICT infrastructures to support the
creation of an open digital university at Mzuzu University in Malawi and to investigate the implications on a wider
African context. The data were collected from lecturers, campus-based undergraduate students, and open and
distance learning undergraduate students. The main results reveal that students and lecturers at Mzuzu University
are conversant with a plethora of ICTs that can be adopted and customised to create a digital university. In that
regard, we conclude that a digital university is possible in Malawi. We further conclude that, considering that
African universities operate in mostly similar economic, technological and political landscapes, African universities
are ready to embrace the concept of a digital university. This is regardless of the prevailing challenges.
