Impact of Health Crisis on the Evolution of the Use of Scientific Knowledge Sharing Tools by Academics: A Comparative Study Within the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis

Abstract

Intensively sharing knowledge ensures the quality of research, high-level teaching, and development of partnership opportunities. Sharing scientific knowledge using innovative technologies such as Information and Communication Technologies for Education (ICTE) seems to be, to date, differently applied by research teachers. Recently, the United Nations site in the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) 2023, reported the mention of focusing on the quality of education cited by “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” In this context, the present study aims to analyze the degree of involvement and the skills acquired in the field of Information and Communication Technologies and distance education (DE) of research teachers from two departments of biology and chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST) before and after the COVID-19 health crisis. Obtained results showed that the health crisis has a positive impact on the use of sharing tools through ICTE and has promoted the shift from traditional to innovative methods in the delivery of education and training activities to innovative methods of education 4.0. Similarly, these results revealed the extent of the evolution in the participation of research teachers in virtual scientific communities after the COVID-19 crisis, such as “professional social networks” (Academia.edu, LinkedIn.com, and ResearchGate). An evolution and improvement in the use of “bibliometric databases and citations of scientific publications” like “SCOPUS, Researcher ID, and Web of Science” were also revealed, confirming the positive impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on digital practices and the use of ICTE in the performance of teaching activities, and in the production of scientific articles. Altogether, these results suggest that institutions and universities must work to build a culture of digital, sustainable, and dynamic learning.