Abstract:
This study investigates the digital literacy level and scholarly communication practices among the faculty members and research scholars at Goa University. The data for the study was collected through a structured Google Form. The study comprised of 101 respondents. The survey investigated multiple dimensions, including digital competency levels, research communication practices, institutional support mechanisms, and barriers to digital adoption. The findings reveal that while 82.2 percent of respondents are proficient in basic computer skills, significant gaps exist in advanced digital competencies. Only 23.7 percent regularly use open-access repositories, and 48.5 percent lack programming knowledge relevant to their research field. The study identified major challenges including financial barriers (70.3 percent), limited access to digital resources (71.3 percent), and a perceived digital divide (61.4 percent). A majority of the respondents (75.3 percent) acknowledge the impact of digital literacy on the effectiveness of research, with 91.1 percent supporting the inclusion of digital literacy training in the curriculum. The research also revealed that 72.3 percent of the respondents were assistant professors, indicating a relatively young academic population with varying digital needs. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing digital literacy and scholarly communication through structured digital literacy training programmes, improved institutional support, and infrastructure development.
