Information Technology Factors Impacting Educators before and during COVID-19: A Study of Developing Countries

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to explore the negative impact of information technology (IT) factors prior to and during COVID-19 from the perspectives of developing country educators, to obtain context to the higher education environment to aid future teaching practices. Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a mixed method approach comprising a questionnaire and interviews with educators situated in two African developing countries from the South African Development Community (SADC). Findings: This paper found that the IT factors that most adversely impacted educators’ delivery of the academic programme, was the student element (students’ internet access, students’ access to IT equipment, students’ proficiency with technology and data costs for students). The IT factors negative impact was mostly also intensified amid the pandemic. Implications/Originality/Value: Far from being just a disruption, the pandemic is an indication of the urgent need to build sustainable higher education institutions to ensure that educators deliver quality academic programmes to all. The research obtained an understanding of IT factors (past and present) that may hinder educators’ orientations towards the future. Bringing to the fore the IT hindrances, educators can act by means of their environment, to enable teaching to continue under all conditions.