Designing an E-readiness Assessment Model for Iranian Universities and Higher Education Institutes

During recent decades, we increasingly encounter with new gains in ICT applications in the field of education and research. These developments have changed the expectations of those involved in education and research of the level of services which are provided. Nowadays, professors and students like to have an easy and instant access to new scientific and research sources and references, to interact with each other without a need for a face-to-face meeting, and to employ technology to teach and learn efficiently. To fulfil these expectations, universities and higher education institutes should continuously assess and well equip themselves to reach a desired level of access to and use of ICT. In this study, an e-readiness assessment model for universities is designed based on reviewing literature on e-readiness assessment models and opinions of ICT experts at universities and higher education institutes; then it is modified to adapt to social and technological conditions of the country. This model consists of four dimensions including "management, strategies and policies based on ICT", " ICT access and infrastructures", "human resources", and "the use of ICT at universities and higher education institutes". Besides, it is composed of 25 indicators. The model was implemented at two universities, Iran University of Science and Technology (a state university) and Qazvin Islamic Azad University (a private one); then their e-readiness is measured and assessed. The proposed model is recognized as an appropriate tool for identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the universities and higher education institutes in their efficient access to and use of ICT and analyzing the digital divide among them.