Perceptions and Impacts of Local Education within the ICT Field

Abstract

The primary aim of this research is to uncover valuable insights into the awareness, influences, and opinions pertaining to diverse educational approaches within the ICT sector. Specifically, the study seeks to appraise and analyse the disparities, commonalities, advantages, and limitations between the two prominent educational paths prevalent in the field: academic/traditional education and vocational education. A mixed-methods research design was adopted to encompass a triangulation of perspectives. The initial viewpoint is the lead researcher’s which involved scraping 200 ICT professional profiles from LinkedIn, extensive data cleaning and analyses using MaxQDA, and applying Factor Analysis for Mixed Data (FAMD). The second viewpoint entailed the general perspective of ICT students and professionals. The collection of this perspective was through 100 online survey participants. Lastly, the third viewpoint entailed the experience of eight ICT professionals through qualitative interviews. This methodological approach facilitates the acquisition of varied insights and observations in the ICT field, both within local educational contexts and beyond.Whilst each perspective provided insights and observations pertaining to the research aim, common theories emerged which showcased the strengths and benefits of viewpoint triangulation with the adoption of mixed methods. This study makes a significant contribution to the broader comprehension of the role and significance of local education in the realm of ICT. Additionally, it embraces the concept of industrial revolution 4.0 in universities, exploring new trends and ideas while promoting collaborative efforts between students and industries in creating high-quality education.