SWOT Analysis of Blended Learning in Public Universities of Uganda: A Case Study of Muni University
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
J. Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal
Abstract
With the fusion of information communication technology (ICT) in higher institutions
of learning, new teaching and learning practices have developed—often called blended
learning—allowing students and teachers to interact with information and each other more
independently. This study, therefore, analyses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
(SWOT) of blended learning in the Public Universities of Uganda, in a case study of Muni University.
Descriptive survey design was employed in the research. The target sample of the survey was
25 lecturers and 189 students selected using a stratified random sampling technique from the three
faculties. A questionnaire was employed in this study and the data collected were analyzed using
SPSS Version 25. The findings of the study identified accessibility, positive attitude, and knowledge
and skills as the major motivators for blended learning. The strengths of blended learning found
included serving many students in a short time, university readiness, connected both in and out of
class, basic IT skills and top management commitment. The weaknesses included low bandwidth
and unstable internet, lack of a plagiarism tool, insu cient numbers of computers and dependent
on internet connectivity. Opportunities cited were competency-based systems that made it easier to
manage individual progress in line with university expansion plans, an accessible way of learning
regardless of location and available external support. The threats included unreliable power supply,
unreliable internet connection, exchanges of username and passwords by students, internet shorthand
used in student assignments. Based on these results, the study provides a baseline to help government
and public universities that would like to implement or newly incorporate blended learning to identify
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with the blended learning approach.
The survey urges that plagiarism plugins for Moodle and BigBlue Button should be added, steady
power supply should be provided, internet accessibility should be improved, blended learning
training and workshops need to be improved and finally, policies, rules and standards pertaining to
blended learning should be enacted.
Description
Keywords
SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis, Blended learning, Public Universities
Citation
Ali, G., Buruga, B. A., & Habibu, T. (2019). Swot analysis of blended learning in public universities of uganda: a case study of muni university. J, 2(4), 410-429. doi:10.3390/j2040027