Knowledge sharing for stimulating learning environment in institutions of higher technical education

Abstract

The educational institutions all over the world are witnessing fast, radical and even revolutionary changes. Changes in the socio-economic and cultural framework, commensurate with recent trends in liberalization and globalization, have resulted in a transition in the very paradigm of teaching and learning. The institutions of higher technical education (IHTE) are faced with demands for greater responsiveness and accountability. After examining whether information and communication technologies (ICT) positively affect the perceived relative advantage of knowledge sharing, the present study tries to examine the status of knowledge management (KM) implementation in terms of knowledge acquisition, knowledge storage and knowledge dissemination. The results of the study reflect that the web based technologies are preferred to user based technologies. Information technology infrastructure and organizational culture are the important success factors for KM. The important factors influencing knowledge sharing are: i) knowledge sharing committees of IHTE, ii) internal lectures, knowledge sharing seminars, iii) preparing written documentation such as lessons learned , iv) training manuals, good work practices, articles for publication, etc., v) by using the portal system, vi) job title, vii) knowledge storage by having the department wise database, and viii) ICT infrastructure.   Key words: Knowledge management, information and communication technologies (ict), institutions of higher technical education (IHTE), web based technologies.