Learning curve Online tertiary education can address Africa’s challenges of access, content and cost The landscape of tertiary education in sub-Saharan Africa has evolved significantly over the past decade, largely driven by the rapid advancement of digital technologies. With the proliferation of internet access, the widespread use of mobile phones and the development of e-learning platforms, the digital revolution has reshaped the way students access education and the way educators deliver content. This transformation has opened up vast possibilities for those seeking tertiary education, particularly for those who face barriers to attending traditional physical institutions. As the continent continues to develop and modernise, online education is the future for higher learning across Africa. Access to tertiary education across the continent has long been a challenge. While many students are eager to pursue higher education, various barriers prevent them from doing so. One of the major obstacles is geographical location. In a continent characterised by vast rural areas, many potential students are located far from the few higher education institutions. This can make travelling to and from campus both expensive and time-consuming, if not altogether impossible for some families. Another issue is the cost of education itself – for many, tertiary education is still an unaffordable luxury. The average household income in many sub-Saharan African countries remains low and the expense of attending a university – whether for tuition, accommodation or materials – can deter many talented individuals from pursuing a degree. The issue of internet access is another hurdle to online education. While urban areas may have relatively good internet connectivity, rural areas often face poor or unreliable internet connections, which can make it difficult for students to access online courses. According to Statista, the overall number of internet users on the continent jumped to around 646 million from close to 181 million in 2014, although internet usage varies significantly across African countries. South Africa’s internet penetration stood at 74% in January 2024 – certainly much lower than Morocco’s 90% but considerably higher than Nigeria (45.5%) and Kenya (40.8%). ‘Access to digital technologies and the internet has become an increasingly important determinant of education success in the 21st century,’ according to a report by Vodacom, Vodafone and Safaricom. ‘Although there is great variation, many African countries experience significant barriers to digital access in education. Some of these include unreliable and non-existent electricity supply, limited access to the technologies and technical support needed for digital education, as well as gender norms, language constraints and restrictive responses to civil unrest.’ Despite these challenges, the future of tertiary education in sub-Saharan Africa is undeniably online. ‘Digital education can be leveraged to mitigate barriers to education – from geographical remoteness to disruptive emergencies (like pandemics, civil unrest and/or dramatic weather events) so that children can continue to learn wherever they are,’ the report adds. ‘Digital content is becoming more affordable; digital skills are now considered a foundational pillar for the growth of African economies. ‘Digital education is a cost-effective way to improve a country’s performance on the SDGs in lieu of expansive and expensive physical infrastructure. The features available on mobile phones can act as a catalyst for SDG4 – more than 1.4 billion subscribers in Africa use their mobile phones for the educational benefit of their children. ‘And digital education offered via mobile devices can effectively leapfrog the traditional fixed-line technologies that commonly represent the initial transition from face-to-face teaching to online learning. Digital education can significantly transform the classroom environment by providing teachers with instructional tools and providing students with greater learning flexibility.’ Over the past few years – and even more so since the COVID-19 pandemic – the continent has seen a consistent rise of online learning platforms. Organisations such as Coursera, edX and FutureLearn have made it possible for learners from all over the world, including Africa, to access high-quality courses from top universities. These platforms offer flexible learning opportunities, enabling students to learn at their own pace, regardless of their physical location. Coursera, for instance, collaborates with more than 350 top universities and companies to deliver flexible, affordable and career-focused online education to individuals and organisations globally. Founded in 2012 by Stanford computer science professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, Coursera has grown into one of the largest online learning platforms, serving 162 million registered learners. It provides a wide range of content and credentials, including courses, specialisations, professional certificates and guided projects, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Universities across Africa are launching virtual learning spaces, providing online materials and offering personalised academic support African universities are also broadening their online education capabilities by introducing virtual classrooms, online resources and tailored academic assistance. With a focus on accessibility and excellence, institutions are adopting sophisticated platforms, such as the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) integration of learning management system Moodle, to deliver flexible learning opportunities to students regardless of location. UJ’s online programmes are crafted to empower students to earn their qualifications at their own pace, enabling them to achieve educational aspirations or progress in their careers. With six start dates annually, no need for travel and a pay-as-you-go model, UJ’s approach provides a flexible and efficient pathway to build essential leadership skills applicable across diverse industries and public sectors. Some universities have partnered with international universities to offer joint online programmes, providing students with access to global perspectives and high-quality content. This in turn offers students the ability to earn recognised qualifications that are competitive on the global job market. With the increasing acceptance of online degrees and certificates, employers are starting to recognise the value of qualifications earned through online learning. This has the potential to improve the employability of graduates, even in countries where traditional universities may have limited capacity to accommodate the growing number of students. Rhodes Business School has partnered with edtech company eLearnAfrica to create a cutting-edge virtual learning environment (VLE). This initiative supports the school goal of making its accredited MBA programme accessible from outside of South Africa. In other words, across Africa and beyond. The collaboration with eLearnAfrica introduces a hybrid learning model, combining flexibility with immersive experiences for MBA students. The VLE integrates a suite of synchronous and asynchronous tools, offering a modern approach to teaching and learning. ‘We are very excited about this, as it means our MBA is now more accessible than ever. We learnt two things from teaching through the pandemic – returning to the old “business as usual model” of “chalk and talk” is not going to happen like it used to,’ Owen Skae, director of Rhodes Business School said when the partnership was announced in 2023. ‘At the same time, running Zoom or Teams sessions and just displaying your PowerPoint slides does not suffice. Students and lecturers want the best of both the digital and the physical teaching world. “Phygital” is key.’ Rhodes Business School, a division of Rhodes University, envisions ‘transforming business for a sustainable world’. Its part-time, modular MBA programme combines coursework with a research component and is accredited by the Association of MBAs. Meanwhile eLearnAfrica, known for its partnerships with edX and FutureLearn, provides access to more than 1 800 online courses from institutions such as Harvard, MIT and Cambridge. It also offers professional development programmes in high-demand fields. In 2016, eLearnAfrica partnered with the Association of African Universities (AAU) to broaden online learning access for students across the AAU’s 400-plus member institutions and other universities not yet affiliated with the organisation. The initiative aimed to provide educational opportunities to approximately 10 million African students. To advance this goal, the AAU-eLearnAfricaLMS was officially launched in 2021. Virtual classrooms, discussion forums and multimedia materials such as videos and interactive simulations enrich the learning process, making it more engaging and accessible. These resources also enable students to revisit and review course materials at their own pace, promoting a deeper understanding of the subject matter. As online education continues to gain traction, it also has the potential to improve the quality of education and the qualifications of students. Traditional education models, which often rely on face-to-face interactions between teachers and students, can be limiting in terms of the breadth of content and learning opportunities. Online learning, on the other hand, offers a more flexible and scalable approach that allows students to engage with a wider range of subjects and courses. ‘Online education has the potential to match, if not surpass, the quality of in-person or hybrid models,’ says Rebecca Stromeyer, founder and CEO of eLearning Africa, a pan-African network and platform on ICT for Education to showcase, support and improve access to sustainable education solutions. ‘It offers access to global resources, expertise and diversified methods of learning. However, to achieve this, courses need to be thoughtfully designed with interactive elements, assessments, feedback mechanisms and opportunities for collaborative learning.’ The online possibilities in tertiary education in sub-Saharan Africa are vast and transformative. With the right infrastructure, training and investment, online education can provide a scalable and sustainable solution to Africa’s educational challenges. After all, online learning offers a powerful tool for addressing the challenges of access, affordability and infrastructure that have long plagued the region’s education system. By embracing online education, universities and educational institutions can increase enrolment, improve the quality of education and provide students with globally competitive qualifications. While challenges remain, the future of tertiary education in sub-Saharan Africa is undoubtedly digital, and it is through continued investment and innovation that these possibilities will be fully realised. Images: Freepik