Smart Partnerships to Increase Equity in Education

Leahy, M, Davis, N, Lewin, C, Charania, A, Nordin, H, Orlič, D, Butler, D and Lopez-Fernadez, O (2016) Smart Partnerships to Increase Equity in Education. The Journal of Educational Technology and Society, 19 (3). pp. 84-98. ISSN 1436-4522

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Abstract

This exploratory analysis of smart partnerships identifies the risk of increasing the digital divide with the deployment of data analytics. Smart partnerships in education appear to include a process of evolution into a synergy of strategic and holistic approaches that enhance the quality of education with digital technologies, harnessing ICT “smartly” both in relation to learning and support of the partnership itself. To guide strategic development as data analytics start to emerge in the schooling sector, two cases of large multi-stakeholder partnership initiatives aiming to increase access to education with ICT nationwide in India and Malaysia are analyzed. Mapping the partners’ collaborative activities in Davis’ Arena of change with digital technologies enabled the identification of both local and global influences in that ecological framework, which inform the choice of partners and their roles to increase equitable access to education. Research and development is recommended so that multi-stakeholder partnerships leverage data analytics alongside technology enhanced learning in the schooling sector with strategies that proactively increase equity.