Date of Award
Spring 2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Computer Science
First Advisor
Ray Toal
Second Advisor
Anna Muraco
Abstract
The rapid global expansion of digital technologies has created significant opportunities to transform education systems, foster innovation, and reduce inequalities. However, access to and benefits from these technologies remain unevenly distributed, shaped by differences in infrastructure, human capital, governance structures, and economic development. This thesis investigates how systemic approaches to digital education in Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe can inform a more inclusive and adaptive global roadmap for digital transformation in education.
Adopting a mixed-methods design, this study combines a comparative quantitative analysis of the CISCO Digital Readiness Index (DRI) with a qualitative content analysis of national education and technology policies. Quantitative findings reveal significant disparities among countries across seven core components of digital readiness, with Technology Adoption, Ease of Doing Business, and Technology Infrastructure demonstrating the strongest correlations with overall readiness.
Drawing on these insights, this thesis proposes a global roadmap that emphasises prioritising highly correlated components to maximise impact, strengthening infrastructure and human capacity, promoting inclusive digital access, and supporting adaptive governance models. The roadmap recognises that effective digital education strategies must be contextually informed, scalable, and equity-driven. By integrating comparative findings and best practices, this study aims to contribute to ongoing efforts by governments, educators, and international organisations to advance equitable, resilient, and sustainable digital education systems worldwide.
Recommended Citation
Anderson, Z Alexandra, "Toward a Global Roadmap: An Analysis of National Strategies Toward Digital Education Improvements Across Southeast Asia and Southern Africa" (2025). Computer Science Undergraduate Theses. 1.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cs_theses/1
