Assessment of Advanced Digital Technology and Platforms Adoption in Higher Learning Institutions in Rwanda. Case Study: University of Tourism, Technology, and Business Studies, Kigali

The emergence of advanced digital technologies, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, Big Data, 3D printing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics, facilitates the rapid and efficient deployment and decommissioning of a shared pool of reconfigurable computing resources—such as networks, servers, storage solutions, applications, and services—with minimal administrative effort and limited need for service provider involvement. This research primarily aims to evaluate the utilization and acceptance of these advanced technologies within higher education institutions in Rwanda, specifically at the University of Tourism and Business (UTB), where the survey predominantly involved IT personnel and students. The findings emphasized several factors contributing to the positive valuation of IT resources, notably aspects like cost-effectiveness, adaptability, and scalability regarding physical storage and rapid deployment. These factors play a significant role in the adoption process of cloud computing; notably, the survey indicated that the primary incentive for considering cloud computing is financial savings. Additionally, the data suggested that the university employs Software as a Service (SaaS) models for various IT resource deployments, including email, web hosting, backup solutions, software testing, and data storage. It was also found that these applications could be outsourced to the cloud as opposed to incurring capital expenses for in-house backup and disaster recovery systems. Furthermore, educational institutions exhibit a consciousness regarding sustainable energy implementation, and the rapid deployment capabilities of the cloud allow for efficient data and application management. Our study also identified that the ability to operate flexibly, anytime and anywhere, serves as a significant motivating factor for the adoption of advanced digital technologies.