Information technology literacy: the crucial factor in aged second-career academics’ sustainability

Liap-Teck Ong,L Fong Woon

doi:10.1051/shsconf/202112406005

Abstract

This study addresses the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4’s objective to increase the number of adults with relevant skills for employment and decent jobs by looking at the context of aged academics in the domain of digital academia. The literature review reveals that there is a scarcity of research studies related to aged second-career academics. Previous studies which have been carried out on second-career academics in business schools did not address the issue of information technology (IT) literacy. Therefore, this exploratory study aims to contribute to the conversation of increasing and sustaining the number of professionally and capably enriched aged second-career academics in digital academia. A hermeneutic interpretive approach is adopted, covering eight aged second-career academics from various types of higher education institutions across Malaysia. The findings from this study suggest that significant support, appropriate IT development and training programs in enhancing their information technology proficiency and literacy is crucial. The finding suggests that this is particularly pertinent for sustainability with respect to aged second-career academics. The study is expected to enhance the governance of universities with regard to introducing proper orientation and training for supporting and improving the information literacy of aged second-career academics in business schools especially for blended delivery of business education.

Highlights

The United Nations (UN) SDG4: Quality Education stipulates that by 2030, the goal is “to substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship”
This study reveals that the issue of information technology literacy for these second-career academics is precipitated by their age, lack of exposure to IT and career transition to academia which is increasingly digitised
The study discovers that to some extent, the adverse impact of lack of IT literacy is mitigated by the institutional support, collegiality of the fellow academics who are digital natives and the user friendliness of the software adopted at the institutions of higher education participating in this study

Summary

Introduction

The UN SDG4: Quality Education stipulates that by 2030, the goal is “to substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship” Taking this goal in relation to the increasingly aging populace globally, this study subscribes to the concept that aged populace needs to be gainfully employed. The increasing demand for business education at tertiary level has increased the demand of academics with practical experience in industry prior to their assuming the role of business academics These academics are classified as secondcareer academics (Larocco & Bruns, 2006) and this study focuses on aged academics of 55 years old and beyond.

Literature review

Participants

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion