Changing technology and reimagining the future of higher education: the role of African Governments in the fourth industrial revolution era

Abstract

The world has reached the fourth industrial revolution. A revolution that is challenging and changing almost all the wisdoms in all sectors of the economy, including higher education. The revolution brings challenges to higher education that may need to be mitigated by governments to keep higher education institutions relevant. The main objective of this study was to track developments in the fourth industrial revolution and map those developments in the higher education context. The paper broadly defines the fourth industrial revolution as a fusion of technologies in the physical, digital and biological domains. Twelve technologies are discussed of the fourth industrial revolutions. The challenges for African higher education are highlighted and what governments can do to mitigate the risk of African higher education institutions becoming irrelevant. It is clear that governments need to adopt appropriate policies in controversial areas; give higher education institutions some autonomy based on policy and allocate funds for research and development; improve access to fourth industrial technologies; coordinate the process of adoption; and fuel adoption of the technologies in the revolution.