AbstractThis study investigated the characteristics which determine the rate of ICT use by lecturers at the National University of Lesotho (NUL). It also examined ICT use factors, competency level in usage, as well as challenges constraining use by the lecturers. Survey research design was adopted. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire administered to 213 respondents. Collected data were structured into grouped frequency distributions. Findings revealed that majority of the lecturers used various ICT resources and facilities and were competent in using ICT for most of their routine work. Easy access to updated information, easy communication and easy sharing of data/information were rated as the possible benefits that determined the adoption and use of ICT. Also, lecturers mainly used ICT facilities to search for information, fax documents, word processing, communicate with colleagues and for the storage and retrieval of materials. For ICT enabled resources, majority of lecturers used electronic mail, and WWW. The major challenges that constrained their use of ICT were inadequate access, inadequate ICT facilities to use and unreliable/erratic communication infrastructure. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the NUL authorities should improve ICT use among lecturers through training, provide more ICT equipment and services, facilitate easy access to ICT, invest in acquisition of ICT, and upgrade the bandwidth. It was further recommended that the Lesotho government should improve the electricity infrastructure and lower the tariffs on imported ICT technologies with a view to improving better exploitation of ICTs at NUL.
Keywords: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT); ICT enabled facilities; Gender; Lesotho.