Over the course of two-months November – December 2023 the Digital Need Assessment main aim was to conduct an evaluation of the current state of digital literacies among lecturers and students in 4 partner universities of the U2SID project namely: University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi”, University of Korça “Fan S. Noli”, Mediterranean University of Albania, and University of Montenegro. SCiDEV team created the methodology which was used to gather data in both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. In total the gathered data from the quantitative approach indicates 705 students and 199 lecturers, self-reported in an online questionnaire their competencies in digital literacies, their habitual use of digital resources, their preferences for certain technologies and their perceived needs for further support and development. As for the qualitative approach, the university partners conducted in total 12 focus groups, and gathered data from 146 participants in focus students, lecturers and stakeholders.
This final report identified the gaps in knowledge skills and infrastructure that hinder the effective use of of digital tools resources in teaching and learning environments in the universities involved in this project in Albania and Montenegro. The study also included the perspective of stakeholders who are impacted by the digital literacies of lecturers and students that include administrative staff, IT personnel, policy makers and employers. Their input was important to provide an understanding of digital literacies needs, expectations and the potential barriers to implementing digital literacies programs.
The Final Report for the Pre-Evaluation and Need Assessment of Digital Literacies is now available for the public but it is also pivotal in shaping the strategies and initiatives of the U2SID project , the Digital Literacies Accelerator Programme and the Digital Transformation Challenge. In this report the SCiDEV team has compiled and analyzed the key findings obtained from the online questionnaire and the focus groups, showing respectively for all 4 partner universities the current state of competencies in digital literacies for students, lecturers and stakeholders. Based on this key findings SCiDEV team of experts compiled recommendations where the emerging consensus points towards a need for enhanced IT and digital infrastructure, face-to-face digital literacies training, and collaborative efforts across various sectors.
If you wish to know more on digital literacies in the academic realm, we invite you to read the Final Report for the Pre-Evaluation and Need Assessment of Digital Literacies.