Abstract:
Digital information literacy skills allow individuals to recognize the need for, to access, and to
evaluate electronic information. Information literate person can confidently use, manage, create,
quote and share sources of digital information in an effective way. The way in which information
is used, created and distributed demonstrates an understanding and acknowledgement of the
cultural, ethical, economic, legal and social aspects of information. The main aim of this study is
to investigate digital information literacy verses academic competencies in Ethiopian higher
learning institutions. This study could provides a framework for developing an understanding of
the digital information literacy skills of both academic staffs and students in relation to research
skills, including information seeking and information use and also to ascertain the source of
digital information for academic staffs and students use most. In this study the researcher used
both qualitative and quantitative research design. Closed and open ended questionnaire, semi
structured in-depth interviews and open-ended interviews and observation checklist were used
for data collection. The study population was from three selected Ethiopian higher institutions
namely Jimma University (JU), Hawasa University (HU) and Wolkite University (WU). The
researcher used purposive sampling and random sampling techniques to select a sample size
from academic staffs and students respectively. The finding of this study shows that digital
information literacy skills was very poor, across the three institutions. The study suggested that
digital information literacy course should be embedded in the curriculum to enhance academic
competency through collaborative approach.
