Conceptualizing Digital Divide and Identifying Factors of Digital Exclusion in Higher Education through Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Our civilization is being transformed by information and communication technology. Over the last two decades, technology has permeated every element of our social and cultural life. The use of internet-enabled devices is fast rising, making online surfing, access to social media and cross-border communication easier. These new technologies are making educational resources more accessible to individuals all across the world. ICTs have long been recognized as an important and critical condition for overcoming social exclusion since they contribute to improved education, governance, and health care, and hence may function as a facilitator for social inclusion. However, the rise of ICTs has not benefitted everyone equally. Digital exclusion occurs when some digital technologies contribute to constraints and exclusion from community engagement. This research attempts to demonstrate how the variables responsible for social exclusion contribute to digital exclusion, which in turn contributes to the extension of socioeconomic supremacy in education. The purpose of this study is to highlight the basic issues surrounding digital exclusion, which is currently in its early phases of research.