Integrating Technology Into Instruction at a Public University in Kyrgyzstan: Barriers and Enablers

The purpose of this study was to determine enablers and barriers to the technology integration into education based on the example of the situation at the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University as reported by students and instructors. The study employed the mixed-methods research design, combining data obtained from 477 student and 57 instructor questionnaires supplemented by interviews with 11 students and 9 instructors. The study revealed that although technology is being used at the universities all over the country, there still exists the lack of both hardware and software laboratories and the instructors have limited knowledge and experience with technology, which, in its turn, indicates the shortage of qualified technical personnel. The cost of personal computers and problems with the Internet connection were claimed to be the major barriers for students.-

Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), technology integration, barriers, enablers, Kyrgyzstan