2023 Higher Education Digital Transformation Survey

HolonIQ’s annual Digital Transformation survey, conducted with the Global Higher Education Network.

Education Intelligence Unit

calendar image
February 1, 2023

This briefing summarizes results from HolonIQ’s annual Digital Transformation survey, conducted with the Global Higher Education Network.The survey references the Higher Education Digital Capability (HEDC) Framework (www.digitalcapability.org), which is informed by global academic research and input from higher education leaders internationally. The HEDC framework offers an overarching view for institutions to map and benchmark digital capabilities across the learner lifecycle, ultimately to support practical and sustainable approaches to digital services and online learning.This special analysis forms part of a longitudinal study into digital capability in Higher Education. Through the exploration of cross-sectional data, this report includes perspectives from a diverse mix of stakeholders globally and builds on the findings from the 2020 and 2021 Global Higher Education Digital Capability reports.

The survey references the Higher Education Digital Capability (HEDC) Framework (www.digitalcapability.org), which is informed by global academic research and input from higher education leaders internationally. The HEDC framework offers an overarching view for institutions to map and benchmark digital capabilities across the learner lifecycle, ultimately to support practical and sustainable approaches to digital services and online learning.This special analysis forms part of a longitudinal study into digital capability in Higher Education. Through the exploration of cross-sectional data, this report includes perspectives from a diverse mix of stakeholders globally and builds on the findings from the 2020 and 2021 Global Higher Education Digital Capability reports.

Higher Education Digital Capability Framework

The Higher Education Digital Capability (HEDC) Framework is a learner focused, practical and flexible approach to mapping and measuring digital capability in higher education institutions.

The Framework is built on four core dimensions with sixteen underlying domains. Each domain is comprised of multiple blocks that represent digital capabilities. The Framework acknowledges educational literature on digital capability and grounds these in current practice using ongoing consultation, research and analysis with higher education leaders around the world.

Digital adoption, transformation and maturity

Digital adoption and transformation remains the greatest challenge across regions and institutions globally. Since last year, we've seen a sharp increase in the proportion of higher education leaders citing digital transformation as one of their biggest issues (from 50% to 69%). Comments suggest broad and deep reflection on the long-term higher education transition to digital, from systems, policies and infrastructure to learning and teaching design and delivery.

Other top challenges for universities include funding/ budget cuts (48%), changing workforce needs (37%), and student access to education (34%). Like many other sectors, higher education institutions are seeing reduced stimulus measures and challenging economic conditions, along with increasing scrutiny on value for money, equity and relevance to industry and workforce needs. At the same time, institutions can be slow to evolve, and legacy cultures and approaches continue to challenge transformation initiatives.

Access the Full Briefing

Customers can access the full briefing on platform

Digital capability: strategic priorities

There have been several shifts in digital strategic priority over the past 3 years as the impact of the pandemic has put pressure on different digital capabilities across the institution. Demand and Discovery remains a critical strategic lever, however this year we also observe a more evenly balanced focus across the other three Dimensions and the lifecycle as a whole, including Work & Lifelong Learning.

The importance of digital capabilities in Work and Lifelong Learning (WL) has increased each year, with 38% now viewing these as 'critical' compared to 30% in 2021 and 13% in 2020. Many universities are responding to global and local demand for work-related skills and work-ready graduates with new curriculum development and new products such as micro-credentials and short courses. In this context, digital capabilities in Learning Design and Learner Experience also remain high priority as part of an institution's offering.

Digital capability: strengths and gaps

As digital transformation efforts evolve from short-term fixes to longer-term strategies, survey responses suggest that institutions are increasingly aware of digital capability gaps in 'people' and 'process', not just the technology (technical infrastructure, tools and systems). In this context, 'people' gaps are noted where staff (leaders, administrators, academics) lack digital skills, capabilities and/or experience, whilst 'process' gaps describe institutional processes and procedures which are not optimized for digital. These can also be exacerbated by cultural and attitudinal challenges, as well as technical and functional gaps.

Ready to get started?

Get a personalized walkthrough of HolonIQ's Global Intelligence Platform.

No items found.

Latest Insights

Global Insights from HolonIQ’s Intelligence Unit. Powered by our Global Impact Intelligence Platform.

Newsletter
Newsletter
2024 Back to School
2024 Back to School
North America EdTech 200
North America EdTech 200
2024 Paris HE Summit
2024 Paris HE Summit
2024 San Juan Speaker
2024 San Juan Speaker
Indices
Indices
Cities
Cities
2023 Back to School Featured Speaker
2023 Back to School Featured Speaker
New York
New York
2023
2023
Webinar
Webinar
Economics
Economics
Draft
Draft
Platform
Platform
2022
2022
Digital Transformation
Digital Transformation
MedTech
MedTech
Global Impact Summits
Global Impact Summits
Impact 3000
Impact 3000
Nuclear
Nuclear
Mobility
Mobility
Electric Vehicles
Electric Vehicles
2021
2021
2020
2020
Sub Saharan Africa
Sub Saharan Africa
Nordic Baltic
Nordic Baltic
North America
North America
South Asia
South Asia
East Asia
East Asia
ANZ
ANZ
Market Sizing
Market Sizing
Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality
Blockchain
Blockchain
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality
Regions
Regions
Markets
Markets
Mobile
Mobile
Client Report
Client Report
Publishers
Publishers
Labor Markets
Labor Markets
Global Landscape
Global Landscape
10 Charts Series
10 Charts Series
R&D
R&D
LMS
LMS
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Executive Panel
Executive Panel
Language Learning
Language Learning
Russia
Russia
Israel
Israel
Germany
Germany
France
France
Media and Press
Media and Press
Climate Tech
Climate Tech
MENA
MENA
South Korea
South Korea
Japan
Japan
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Health Tech
Health Tech
Global EdTech 1000
Global EdTech 1000
Unicorns
Unicorns
MOOCs
MOOCs
Global Giants
Global Giants
Client Note
Client Note
Capital Markets
Capital Markets
Advanced Technology
Advanced Technology
OPM
OPM
International Education
International Education
India
India
China
China
Canada
Canada
Venture Capital
Venture Capital
Bootcamps
Bootcamps
Online learning
Online learning
Notes
Notes
Europe
Europe
Asia
Asia
Africa
Africa
LATAM
LATAM
Brazil
Brazil
Robotics
Robotics
Education in 2030
Education in 2030
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
SDG 17
SDG 17
SDG 16
SDG 16
SDG 15
SDG 15
SDG 14
SDG 14
SDG 13
SDG 13
SDG 12
SDG 12
SDG 11
SDG 11
SDG 10
SDG 10
SDG 9
SDG 9
SDG 8
SDG 8
SDG 7
SDG 7
SDG 6
SDG 6
SDG 5
SDG 5
SDG 4
SDG 4
SDG 3
SDG 3
SDG 2
SDG 2
SDG 1
SDG 1
Climate Tech 1000
Climate Tech 1000

Sign Up for our Newsletters

We provide you with relevant and up-to-date insights on the global impact economy. Choose out of our newsletters and you will find trending topics in your inbox.

Weekly Newsletter

Climate Technology

Weekly Newsletter

Education Technology

Weekly Newsletter

Health Technology

Weekly Newsletter

Higher Education

Daily Newsletter

Chart of the Day

Daily Newsletter

Impact Capital Markets