E-Learning challenges in Iran's higher education system and its implications in the realm of good governance

Abstract

Good Governance is an approach to government that is committed to creating a system founded in justice and peace that protects individual’s human rights and civil liberties. Citizens' learning and education processes, given the huge technological developments and innovations, are changing both in terms of nature and shape. E-governing in Iran despite of all its progresses in the recent years is confronting numerous challenges. To a great extent these challenges are rooted in higher education system, the absence of no systematic approaches to e-learning, and social and political structural restrictions. The aim of this study is to examine the present status of e-learning in Iran's higher education system and its shortcomings structurally. It also argues the challenges and its implications for crystallization of an efficient government specifically from the perspective of e-governing. By using descriptive-analytical research method, based on existing data, Iran's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) indices and statistics, and reviewing the theoretical literature and conducted studies, a deep analysis of Iran's current e-learning status and its implications in the realm of good governance are presented. A literature review conducted for the purpose of this study, which has involved a review and synthesis results from scientific publications. The findings indicated that the idea of good governance in Iran because of under developed infrastructures educationally and socially, and political considerations faces major and minor challenges and problems specially in the area of public awareness, allocation of national budget, lack of innovation, and weakness in the area of management.