Journal of Information Technology Impact

To properly integrate information & communication technologies (ICTs) in higher educational institutes (HEIs) of Pakistan demands factors which relate with their usage, acceptance, adoption, and diffusion need be analyzed through some appropriate statistical tests before their implementation at ground level. This study measures critical factors such as ZPD (zone of proximal development) gap, difference of perception, issue by issue and on all issues under discussion by participants’ at each round of Delphi in order to analyze the difference in perceptions among various higher education (HE) stake holders. It was determined that a significant ZPD gap in ICT usage, acceptance, adoption, and diffusion is present in HEIs of Pakistan as compared to those developed nations. However, no significant difference of thought was measured while measuring issues such as demand & supply of ICTs, causes of deprived standard of HE, ICT integration challenges and their proposed solutions, which reveal that the problems identified and measures suggested need be considered compulsory in design of any future ICT policy. Recommendations as suggested in this study would benefit to Govt. of Pakistan while designing new ICT policies for higher education system (HES) in particular and to other concerned stake holders of less developed countries with similar nature of ICT problems/challenges in their HES. It is suggested that there is an utmost need of robust, effective and targetoriented ICT policy that may work out on issues identified in this study and take actions in timely manner to overcome this situation of dilemma.