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FICC 2021: Advances in Information and Communication pp 342–354Cite as

Application of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to Depict the Use of NRENs at Higher Education Institutions

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Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 1363))

Abstract

Polarized views on the development of numerous satellite campuses in higher education have made it even harder to improve educational quality and research output in higher learning institutions. While the decision to use information and communication technology (ICT) related projects may seem pedagogically sound, short of resources such as libraries, laboratories, ICT, among others, may have reduced higher learning institutions’ capacity to improve educational quality and research output. This paper explores the association between the various actors who have influenced user requirements in the National Research and Education Network (NREN) services and Ethiopian Education and Research Network (EthERNet). The results indicated that there is a strong association between the main actors and others. It was also noted that other actors had an indirect relationship that influenced other actors; they are not related. From the Actor Network Theory (ANT), three concepts that were examined, namely the obligatory passage point (OPPs) recognition, problematization, and the inscription process. The outcome of the research is an ANT model that can assist in the alignment of heterogeneous interests among various users.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. General EthERNet, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Zelalem Assefa

  2. University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

    Bankole Felix

  3. University of Technology Tshwane, Pretoria, South Africa

    Bankole Felix

Authors
  1. Zelalem Assefa
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  2. Bankole Felix
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zelalem Assefa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Saga University, Saga, Japan

    Kohei Arai

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Assefa, Z., Felix, B. (2021). Application of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to Depict the Use of NRENs at Higher Education Institutions. In: Arai, K. (eds) Advances in Information and Communication. FICC 2021. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1363. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73100-7_25

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