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An analysis of systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning in African universities - case studies in Kenya and Rwanda
Thesis (PhD (Technology and Innovation Management))--University of Pretoria, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2026
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| _version_ | 1869483936029081600 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Mugabe, John Ouma |
| author_browse | Mugabe, John Ouma |
| author_facet | Mugabe, John Ouma |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Thesis (PhD (Technology and Innovation Management))--University of Pretoria, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107568 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-07-01T04:06:54.725Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107568 An analysis of systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning in African universities - case studies in Kenya and Rwanda Mugabe, John Ouma manjamba@alum.mit.edu Mbaya, Martin N. UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Digital learning Innovation Systemic barriers Kenya Rwanda University National innovation system Thesis (PhD (Technology and Innovation Management))--University of Pretoria, 2025. This study aims to contribute to research on digital learning and innovation barriers while providing a useful framework for policy makers globally. The main objective was to determine the barriers to digital learning innovation in Africa based on the experience of universities. The specific objective was to identify the role that universities can play in enhancing digital learning innovation and the subsequent opportunities they can harness by addressing such barriers. The study addresses the gap of limited research on existing barriers that are systemic. The study uses a mixed methods approach that combines mapping of the digital learning landscape, a systematic literature review and a comparative case study. It explores systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning within universities in Kenya and Rwanda. The original contribution to knowledge is a conceptual framework supported by two typologies (digital learning institutions and systemic barriers) that link digital learning as innovation, to national innovation systems and universities as units of analysis. Case studies of universities in Kenya and Rwanda between 2013 and 2025 show different patterns in how policy regimes, leadership and systemic barriers interact. In Kenya a strong market-driven policy regime achieved through industry-academia leadership overcomes four dominant systemic barriers: political; financial/economic; socio-cultural and technological. Kenya demonstrates a unique pattern of a gradually strengthening / dynamic system of innovation in an African context with dissipating capabilities in digital learning within public universities. between 2016 and 2025 the Webometrics ranking of Kenyatta University declines. Between 2008-2025, market coordinated systemic leadership is provided by private universities like Strathmore, innovative institutions like KENET and private sector actors like Google, Microsoft and Safaricom. In Rwanda, a strong state-driven policy regime achieved through decisive leadership overcomes three dominant systemic barriers: financial/economic; socio-cultural and technological. Rwanda demonstrates a unique pattern of a consistently strong national innovation system in an African context, with concentrating capabilities in digital learning within the public university system. Between 2016 and 2025, the Webometrics ranking of the University of Rwanda ascends following a merger in 2013. Between 2011 and 2025 state coordinated systemic leadership is provided by Carnegie Mellon University Africa with support from the African Development Bank and the Mastercard Foundation. The study makes three contributions. First, the stronger and more dynamic the system of innovation is, the greater its capability to address more barriers as an entrepreneurial state. Second, entrepreneurial universities drive strong and dynamic innovation systems (entrepreneurial states) which unlock barriers to innovations in digital learning. Third, leadership (institutional and individual) is a key agent of a strong innovation system that overcomes systemic barriers. A key conclusion is that distributed leadership by the quadruple helix actors of industry, academia, government and civil society is important in overcoming systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning. There is an opportunity for future research by: expanding case studies to cover more universities and national innovation systems; analysing the use of university ranking indices to study innovation in digital learning; and undertaking further econometric analysis focused on digital learning in universities and national innovation systems. University of Pretoria Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) PhD (Technology and Innovation Management) Unrestricted Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology SDG-04: Quality education SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure 2026-01-27T06:27:57Z 2026-01-27T06:27:57Z 2026-05-18 2025-09-19 Thesis * May 2026 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107568 10.25403/UPresearchdata.31147984 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Digital learning Innovation Systemic barriers Kenya Rwanda University National innovation system An analysis of systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning in African universities - case studies in Kenya and Rwanda |
| title | An analysis of systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning in African universities - case studies in Kenya and Rwanda |
| title_full | An analysis of systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning in African universities - case studies in Kenya and Rwanda |
| title_fullStr | An analysis of systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning in African universities - case studies in Kenya and Rwanda |
| title_full_unstemmed | An analysis of systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning in African universities - case studies in Kenya and Rwanda |
| title_short | An analysis of systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning in African universities - case studies in Kenya and Rwanda |
| title_sort | analysis of systemic barriers to innovation in digital learning in african universities case studies in kenya and rwanda |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Digital learning Innovation Systemic barriers Kenya Rwanda University National innovation system |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107568 |