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Abstract
With the advent of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), emerging technologies and calls for workforce preparedness through upskilling and re-skilling across the globe, many academic institutions have fully embraced the blended learning format. The blended format combines online and face-to-face teaching and learning formats. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning methods, and many continued with it post-pandemic, leveraging its benefits such as flexibility, accessibility, and continuous skill development. This study examines how 4IR technologies can be harnessed for human capital development through online learning in Africa. The key objectives are as follows: determine the role of online learning in harnessing 4IR technologies, establish the benefits of online learning in human capital development and strategies for effective implementation of online learning. A desktop research approach was utilised in this study. A systematic literature review was employed to gather evidence on harnessing 4IR through online learning in Africa. Data was collected using the Google Scholar and Scopus databases, and only peer-reviewed research articles were reviewed. The findings reveal that Africa knows 4IR technologies' potential in developing human capital despite various challenges in harnessing these technologies, such as infrastructure and connectivity limitations, the digital divide, and the skills gap. To harness the new technologies effectively, this study recommends collaboration between industry and academia and integrating emerging technologies in online learning platforms.
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