Title: Design and Implementation of a University Cloud System: Methodological Reflections from Three Pilot Institutions in the DRC (Case of UPKAN, UNIKAN, and UKA)
Authors: Kalumba Mulumba François, Tshibaka Musendenka Emmanuel, Ntumba Badibanga Simon.
Volume: 9
Issue: 8
Pages: 55-67
Publication Date: 2025/08/28
Abstract:
In a context of global digital transformation in higher education, universities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are facing significant technological and institutional challenges. This study focuses on the design and implementation of an integrated university cloud system, based on the experience of three pilot institutions: Pedagogical University of Kananga (UPKAN), University of Kananga (UNIKAN), and Notre-Dame University of Kasayi (UKA). The main objective was to identify the methodological, technical, and human conditions necessary to establish a sustainable and efficient digital academic infrastructure. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining surveys (276 respondents), qualitative interviews, and participatory co-design workshops. The findings reveal a strong demand for digitalization of academic services (access to course materials, automated registration, academic record traceability), but also highlight persistent structural barriers such as power outages, weak ICT infrastructure, and limited staff training. The study concludes that the success of a university cloud in the DRC depends on a strategy that integrates technological openness, inclusive governance, capacity building, and contextual adaptation. The proposed model, based on open and modular skills, offers a replicable framework for other African universities facing similar challenges.