Entrepreneuring an Integrated Model for Optimal Learning Management System Adoption in South African Higher Education: A Multidisciplinary Consortium Approach

Abstract

This study proposes an integrated entrepreneurial model to optimize Learning Management System (LMS) adoption in South African higher education (HE). It addresses connectivity, content, and technical support barriers through multidisciplinary collaboration, expanding LMS use for teaching, research, and community engagement. It employed a mixed-methods approach involving a multidisciplinary consortium from computer science, IT, statistics, operations research, and education. Data included a literature review, surveys (337 responses), interviews, and workshops to co-design an integrated LMS adoption model. Results revealed major barriers in connectivity, digital content, and technical support. The proposed model emphasizes infrastructure upgrades, localized content, capacity-building, and strategic policies, showing initial pilot improvements in LMS usage and stakeholder satisfaction. The study concludes that effective adoption of LMS requires a holistic, multidisciplinary approach addressing interconnected barriers of infrastructure, content, technical support, and institutional strategy. The integrative entrepreneurial model developed offers a scalable and contextually relevant framework to optimize LMS use across teaching, research, and community engagement. Key recommendations include prioritizing broadband expansion with hybrid connectivity solutions tailored to diverse regional needs, co-creating localized and culturally relevant digital content, and implementing comprehensive capacity-building programs involving ongoing user training and AI-supported help desks. Institutionalizing LMS integration through clear policies and nurturing entrepreneurial partnerships with technology providers and government agencies is essential for sustainability. Continuous monitoring and adaptive refinement based on data-driven evaluations can ensure responsiveness to emerging challenges and evolving technological landscapes. This comprehensive strategy can overcome persistent inequities and unlock the transformative potential of digital education in South Africa’s HE sectors.