Comprehensive Framework for Mitigating Digital Divide Factors in Higher Education

Abstract

The issue of Digital Divide is a prevalent concern across various educational and non-educational domains in Afghanistan. The situation is particularly challenging at Kabul University, where numerous factors hinder the effective utilization of available digital technologies by students, teachers, and staff. Drawing on the existing factors, our research proposes a comprehensive solution framework to address this problem. Our framework aims to mitigate most of the Digital Divide factors that are present at Kabul University, thereby enabling its stakeholders to leverage digital technologies effectively. Compared to similar frameworks proposed in other developing countries, our approach is specifically tailored to the cultural and educational environments of Kabul University and Afghanistan. As such, it takes into account the unique challenges and opportunities presented by these contexts. Our research is a significant contribution to the discourse on Digital Divide in Afghanistan, and we believe that our proposed framework has the potential to transform the digital landscape of Kabul University. We hope that our findings and recommendations will inform further research and policy interventions in this area, ultimately contributing to the development of a more digitally inclusive society. In our research, we utilized a case study and design science methodology to address the issue of the Digital Divide at Kabul University in Afghanistan.