The Role of Partnerships in Preparing Open Distance E-Learning in South Africa for the 4IR: A Case Study

Abstract

The concept of the 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution) is gaining currency in numerous sectors including HE (higher education) (cf. for example, Van Heerden & Goosen 2020; Grinshkun & Osipovskaya 2020). The WEF (World Economic Forum) describes the 4IR as a combination of different technologies blurring the boundaries between the physical, digital, and biological spheres (WEF 2018). The term and its implications are attracting increasing attention from policymakers, business practitioners, and academics (Oke & Fernandes 2020).