Journal of Technology and Information Education 2025, 17(1):147-166 | DOI: 10.5507/jtie.2025.005
STRATEGIES FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF UNIVERSITIES
- 1 Isik University, Department of Business, Turkiye.
- 2 Okan University, Department of Business, Turkiye.
This research aims to understand digital transformation processes and their implications for universities comprehensively. It explores the impact of digitalization on higher education, focusing on the current state of universities, their existing processes, and the steps necessary for effective digital transformation. The study presents a strategic roadmap for integrating and managing these transformative changes within institutional strategies by examining how digital transformation influences the vision of universities. This study reviews the literature to examine the impact of digital transformation strategies on higher education, particularly the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in this field. The analysis shows that universities' role in society and the economy has evolved and is expected to undergo significant changes in the coming decade. Universities must adopt emerging business models to stand out in a competitive higher education landscape. These institutions need to adapt quickly to technological advancements to ensure their sustainability. The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically accelerated the global adoption of technology. The main drivers of digital transformation in universities can be increased competitiveness, enhanced user experience, greater agility, and significantly reduced operational costs. A key priority should be exploring innovative approaches to establishing technology development centers through research to address the growing skills gap. Universities must support academics in advancing digital skills and developing creative teaching methods, promote digital literacy throughout academia, and encourage the adoption of digital learning platforms. Establishing clear policies to embrace the digital era in higher education is crucial. As universities compete globally for students, faculty, and funding, adopting and integrating new technologies is vital.
Keywords: Artificial intelligence, digital transformation, higher education, university 4.0, multimode universities.
Received: November 7, 2024; Revised: March 3, 2025; Accepted: November 7, 2024; Published: October 17, 2025 Show citation
References
- Akbari, T.T.; Pratomo, R.R. (2022). Higher education digital transformation implementation in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jurnal Kajian Komunikasi, 10(1), 52-65, https://dx.doi.org/10.24198/jkk.v10i1.38052
Go to original source...
- Akhmetshin, E., Ilyina, I., Kulibanova, V., Teor, T., & Okagbue, H. (2021, March). The formation of the university reputation capital under the digital transformation of the environment. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, (699)1, 012001. IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/699/1/012001
Go to original source...
- Akinwalere, S. N., & Ivanov, V. (2022). Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities. Border Crossing, 12(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.33182/bc.v12i1.2015
Go to original source...
- Alenezi, M. (2021). Deep dive into digital transformation in higher education institutions. Education Sciences, 11(12), 770-781. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11120770
Go to original source...
- Barabanova, S. V., Kaybiyaynen, A. A., & Kraysman, N. V. (2019). Digitalization of education in the global context. Higher Education in Russia, 28(1), 94-103. https://doi.org/10.31992/0869-3617-2019-28-1-94-103
Go to original source...
- Benavides, L. M. C., Tamayo Arias, J. A., Arango Serna, M. D., Branch Bedoya, J. W., & Burgos, D. (2020). Digital transformation in higher education institutions: A systematic literature review. Sensors, 20(11), 3291-3302. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20113291
Go to original source...
- Boehm, C. (2022). University 3.0: A Conceptual Framework for Revisiting University Futures. In Arts and Academia, 61-86. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83867-727-520221004
Go to original source...
- Bond, M., Marín, V. I., Dolch, C., Bedenlier, S., & Zawacki-Richter, O. (2018). Digital transformation in German higher education: student and teacher perceptions and digital media usage. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 15(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-018-0130-1
Go to original source...
- Butler, D., Leahy, M., Twining, P., Akoh, B., Chtouki, Y., Farshadnia, S., & Valtonen, T. (2018). Education systems in the digital age: The need for alignment. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 23, 473-494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-018-9388-6
Go to original source...
- Calvet, L., Bourdin, P., & Prados, F. (2019, November). Immersive technologies in higher education: Applications, challenges, and good practices. In Proceedings of the 2019 3rd International Conference on Education and E-Learning (pp. 95-99). https://doi.org/10.1145/3371647.3371667
Go to original source...
- Celik, I., Dindar, M., Muukkonen, H. and J€ arvel€ a, S. (2022), "The promises and challenges of artificial intelligence for teachers: a systematic review of research," TechTrends, 66(4), 616-630, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-022-00715-y
Go to original source...
- Chipembele, M., & Bwalya, K. J. (2016). Assessing e-readiness of the Copperbelt University, Zambia: a case study. The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, 33(5), 315-332. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJILT-12-2015-0036
Go to original source...
- Christie, M., & De Graaff, E. (2017). The philosophical and pedagogical underpinnings of Active Learning in Engineering Education. European Journal of Engineering Education, 42(1), 5-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2016.1254160
Go to original source...
- Cox, A., Pinfield, S., & Rutter, S. (2019). The intelligent library: Thought leaders' views on the likely impact of artificial intelligence on academic libraries. Library Hi Tech, 37(3), 418-435. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-08-2018-0105.
Go to original source...
- Cronin, P., Ryan, F., & Coughlan, M. (2008). Undertaking a literature review: A step-by-step approach. British Journal of Nursing, 17(1), 38-43. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2008.17.1.28059
Go to original source...
- Deshpande, A. (2018, July 3). How to bring digital transformation to education. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2018/07/03/how-to-bring-digital-transformation-to-education/
- Dewar, J. (2017). Call for the tertiary sector to gear toward University 4.0. https://events.ceda.com.au/News-and-analysis/CEDA-Events/Call-for-tertiary-sector-to-gear-toward-University-4-0
- Doroshenko, T. N., Kalpinskaya, O. E., & Makarova, E. A. (2021, February). Digital university models in the process of modern transformation of higher education. In International Scientific and Practical Conference "Russia 2020-a new reality: economy and society" (ISPCR 2020, 361-364. Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.210222.071
Go to original source...
- Educause (2018), "Horizon report: 2018 higher education edition", Educause Learning Initiative and The New Media Consortium.
- Efimov, V. S., & Lapteva, A. V., (2017). University 4.0: Philosophical and Methodological Analysis. University Management: Practice and Analysis, 21(1), 16-29. https://doi.org/10.15826/umpa.2017.01.002
Go to original source...
- Fernández, A.; Gómez, B.; Binjaku, K.; Meçe, E.K. Digital transformation initiatives in higher education institutions: A multivocal literature review. Educ. Inf. Technol.; 2023; 28, 12351-12382. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11544-0
Go to original source...
- Fűzi, B., Géring, Z., & Szendrei-Pál, E., (2022). Changing expectations related to digitalisation and socialisation in higher education. Horizon scanning of pre-and post-COVID-19 discourses. Educational Review, 74(3), 484-516. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2021.2023101
Go to original source...
- García-Morales, V. J., Garrido-Moreno, A., & Martín-Rojas, R. (2021). The transformation of higher education after the COVID disruption: Emerging challenges in an online learning scenario. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 616059. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.616059
Go to original source...
- Giesenbauer, B., & Müller-Christ, G. (2020). University 4.0: Promoting the transformation of higher education institutions toward sustainable development. Sustainability, 12(8), 3371. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083371
Go to original source...
- Gonzalez-Sanmamed, M., Sangrà, A., Souto-Seijo, A., & Estévez, I. (2020). Learning ecologies in the digital era: challenges for higher education. Publicaciones, 50(1), 83-102. https://doi.org/10.30827/publicaciones.v50i1.15671
Go to original source...
- Gorbunova, N. V., Timirgaleeva, R. R., & Khrulyova, A. A. (2021). Integrated model formation for the digital university development. In SHS Web of Conferences 113, 00024. EDP Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202111300024
Go to original source...
- Grajek, S. (2020). How Colleges and Universities Are Driving to Digital Transformation Today. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2020/1/how-colleges-and-universities-are-driving-to-digital-transformation-today
- Gregory, R., Wagner, H. T., Tumbas, S., & Drechsler, K. (2019). At the crossroads between digital innovation and digital transformation. Fortieth International Conference on Information Systems, Munich. https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.044XX
Go to original source...
- Gueye, M. L., & Esposito, E. (2020, October). University 4.0: The industry 4.0 paradigm applied to education. In IX Congreso Nacional de Tecnologías en la Educación.
- Guri-Rosenblit, S. (2019). Open universities: Innovative past, challenging present, and prospective future. International Review of open and distributed learning research, 20(4), 179-194. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v20i4.4034
Go to original source...
- Heilig, L., Schwarze, S., & Voß, S. (2017). An analysis of digital transformation in the history and future of modern ports. Conference: The 50th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) Proceedings. Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2017.160
Go to original source...
- Hollands, F., & Escueta, M. (2020). How research informs educational technology decision-making in higher education: the role of external research versus internal research. Educational Technology Research and Development, 68, 163-180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-019-09678-z
Go to original source...
- Jung, J.; Horta, H.; Postiglione, G.A. Living in uncertainty: The COVID-19 pandemic and higher education in Hong Kong. Stud. High. Educ.; 2021; 46, 107-120. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2020.1859685
Go to original source...
- Kaminskyi, O. Y., Yereshko, Y. O., & Kyrychenko, S. O. (2018). Digital transformation of University Education in Ukraine: Trajectories of Development in new technological and economic order conditions. Информационные технологии и средства обучения, 64(2), 128-137. https://doi.org/10.33407/itlt.v64i2.2083.
Go to original source...
- Kane, G. C. (2017). MetLife centers its strategy on digital transformation. MIT Sloan Management Review, 59(1), 88-99. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/metlife-centers-its-strategy-on-digital-transformation/Kaputa, V.; Loučanová, E.; Tejerina-Gaite, F.A. Digital transformation in higher education institutions as a driver of socially oriented innovations. Soc. Innov. High. Educ.; 2022; 61, 81-85. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84044-0_4
Go to original source...
- Kopp, M., Gröblinger, O., & Adams, S. (2019). Five common assumptions that prevent digital transformation at higher education institutions. INTED2019 Proceedings, 1, 1448-1457.
Go to original source...
- KPMG (2022). Global Tech Report. https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/xx/pdf/2022/09/kpmg-global-tech-report-2022.pdf
- Kumar, S. (2019). Artificial intelligence divulges effective tactics of top management institutes in India. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 26(7), 2188-2204. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-08-2018-0251.
Go to original source...
- Kuznetsov, E. B., & Engovatova, A. A. (2016). Universities 4.0: Points of growth of the knowledge economy in Russia. Innovations, 5(211), 3-9.
- Leal Filho, W., Lange Salvia, A., Beynaghi, A., Fritzen, B., Ulisses, A., Avila, L. V., ... & Nikolaou, I. (2024). Digital transformation and sustainable development in higher education in a post-pandemic world. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 31(1), 108-123. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2023.2237933
Go to original source...
- Marengo, A., Pagano, A. and Soomro, K.A. (2023). "Serious games to assess university students' soft skills: investigating the effectiveness of a gamified assessment prototype," Interactive Learning Environments, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2023.2253849
Go to original source...
- Márquez-Ramos, L. (2021). Does digitalization in higher education help to bridge the gap between academia and industry? An application to COVID-19. Industry and Higher Education, 35(6), 630-637. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422221989190
Go to original source...
- Matt, C., Hess, T., & Benlian, A. (2015). Digital transformation strategies. Bus Inf Syst Eng 57 (5). 339-343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-015-0401-5
Go to original source...
- McKinsey (2018). Higher Education. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/education/our-insights/higher-education
- Mexhuani, B. (2025). Adopting Digital Tools in Higher Education: Opportunities, Challenges and Theoretical Insights. European Journal of Education, 60(1), e12819. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12819
Go to original source...
- Mikheev, A., Serkina, Y., & Vasyaev, A. (2021). Current trends in the digital transformation of higher education institutions in Russia. Education and Information Technologies, 26(4), 4537-4551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10467-6
Go to original source...
- Mohamed Hashim, M. A., Tlemsani, I., & Matthews, R. (2021). Higher education strategy in digital transformation. Education and Information Technologies, 27, 3171-3195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10739-1
Go to original source...
- Nguyen, D. The university in digital technologies: Tensions and challenges. Australas. Mark. J. (AMJ) 2018, 26, 79-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ausmj.2018.05.012
Go to original source...
- Norton, A., Shroff, S., & Edwards, N. (2020). Digital Transformation: An enterprise architecture perspective. Publish Nation Limited: London, UK.
- Owoc,M.L.,Sawicka,A.andWeichbroth,P.(2019), "Artificial intelligence technologies in education: benefits, challenges, and implementation strategies," IFIP International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Knowledge Management, Springer International Publishing, Cham, 37-58. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85001-2_4
Go to original source...
- Petkovics, I. (2018). Digital transformation in higher education. Journal of Applied Technical and Educational Sciences, 8(4), 77-89. https://doi.org/10.24368/jates.v8i4.55
Go to original source...
- Powell, L., & McGuigan, N. (2020). Teaching, virtually: A critical reflection. Accounting Research Journal, 34(3), 335-344. https://doi.org/10.1108/arj-09-2020-0307
Go to original source...
- PWC (2018). The 2018 digital university: staying relevant in the digital age. https://www.pwc.co.uk/assets/pdf/the-2018-digital-university-staying-relevant-in-the-digital-age.pdf
- Qin, H. & Wang, G. (2022). "Benefits, challenges, and solutions of Artificial Intelligence applied in education," 2022 11th International Conference on Educational and Information Technology (ICEIT), IEEE, 62-66.
Go to original source...
- Rasul, T., Nair, S., Kalendra, D., Robin, M., Oliveira Santini, F., Ladeira, W., Sun, M., Day, I., Rather, R and Heathcote, L. (2023), The role of ChatGPT in higher education: benefits, challenges, and future research directions, Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching, 6(1), 41-56. https://doi.org/10.37074/jalt.2023.6.1.29
Go to original source...
- Rego, B. S., Lourenço, D., Moreira, F., & Pereira, C. S. (2024). Digital transformation, skills, and education: A systematic literature review. Industry and higher education, 38(4), 336-349. https://doi.org/10.1177/09504222231208969
Go to original source...
- Rodrigues, L. S. (2017). Challenges of digital transformation in higher education institutions: A brief discussion. In Proceedings of 30th IBIMA Conference.
- Rof, A., Bikfalvi, A., & Marques, P. (2022). Pandemic-accelerated digital transformation of a born-digital higher education institution. Educational Technology & Society, 25(1), 124-141.
- Saini, S., Gomis, K., Polychronakis, Y., Saini, M., & Sapountzis, S. (2025). Identifying challenges in implementing digital transformation in UK higher education. Quality Assurance in Education, 33(1), 109-123. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-05-2024-0076
Go to original source...
- Sandkuhl, K., & Lehmann, H. (2017). Digital transformation in higher education-The role of enterprise architectures and portals., 49-60.
- Schaffhauser, D. (2017). The most significant barriers to digital learning are a lack of time and devices: the Journal and Campus Technology.
- Seres, L., Pavlicevic, V., & Tumbas, P. (2018, March). Digital transformation of higher education: Competing on analytics. In Proceedings of INTED2018 Conference 5th-7th March, 9491-9497.
Go to original source...
- Shklyaruk, M. S. (2019). State as a platform: People and technologies. RANEPA, Moscow.
- Singun, A. J. (2025). Unveiling the barriers to digital transformation in higher education institutions: a systematic literature review. Discover Education, 4(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4970233/v1Skog, D.A.; Wimelius, H.; Sandberg, J. Digital Disruption. Bus. Inf. Syst. Eng. 2018, 60, 431-437.
Go to original source...
- Solovyov, O. (2018). Высшая ступень. Почему невозможно предсказать будущее образования. https://www.forbes.ru/karera-i-svoy-biznes/366505-vysshaya-stupen-pochemu-nevozmozhno-predskazat-budushchee-obrazovaniya
- Stüber, J. (2018). Barriers of digital technologies in Higher Education: A teachers' perspective from a Swedish University. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1201871&dswid=-6349
- Suárez-Guerrero, C., Rivera-Vargas, P., & Raffaghelli, J. (2023). EdTech myths: Towards a critical digital educational agenda. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 32(5), 605-620. https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2023.2240332
Go to original source...
- Telukdarie, A., & Munsamy, M. (2019, December). Digitization of Higher Education Institutions. In 2019 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM), 716-721. https://doi.org/10.1109/IEEM44572.2019.8978701
Go to original source...
- Thoring, A., Rudolph, D., & Vogl, R. (2017). Digitalization of higher education from a student's point of view. European Journal of Higher Education IT, 1-15.
- Titov, S. V. (2019). Main provisions and prospects for development of the "University 4.0" concept. International Research Journal, 6(84), 66-70.
- Tømte, C. E., Fossland, T., Aamodt, P. O., & Degn, L. (2019). Digitalization in higher education: mapping institutional approaches for teaching and learning. Quality in Higher Education, 25(1), 98-114. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538322.2019.1603611
Go to original source...
- Tomyuk O.N., Diachkova A.V., Novgorodtseva A.N. (2022). Global trends in digital transformation and media positioning of universities in social networks. Digital Social, 5(1) 64-75. https://doi.org/10.26425/2658-347X-2022-5-1-64-75
Go to original source...
- Trevisan, L.V.; Eustachio, J.H.P.P.; Dias, B.G.; Leal Filho, W.; Pedrozo, E.Á. Digital transformation towards sustainability in higher education: State-of-the-art and future research insights. Environ. Dev. Sustain.; 2023; 26, 2789-2810. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02874-7
Go to original source...
- Ugur, N.G. (2020). Digitalization in higher education: A qualitative approach. International Journal of Technology in Education and Science (IJTES), 4(1), 18-25. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijtes.v4i1.24
Go to original source...
- Verhoef, A. H., & Du Toit, J. (2018). Embodied digital technology and transformation in higher education. Transformation in Higher Education, 3(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.4102/the.v2i0.52
Go to original source...
- Wang, T., Lund, B.D., Marengo, A., Pagano, A., Mannuru, N.R., Teel, Z.A. and Pange, J. (2023). Exploring the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on international students in higher education: generative AI, chatbots, analytics, and international student success, Applied Sciences, 13(11), 6716. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202305.0808.v1
Go to original source...
- Wildan, M.W.; Umri, A.I.; Hashim, H.U.; Dahlan, A.R.A. A Business Case for Digital Transformation of a Malaysian-Based University. In Proceedings of the 2018 International Conference on Information and Communication Technology for the Muslim World (ICT4M), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 23-25 July 2018; IEEE: Piscataway, NJ, USA, 2018, 106-109. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICT4M.2018.00028
Go to original source...
- Xiao, J. (2019). Digital transformation in higher education: critiquing the five-year development plans (2016-2020) of 75 Chinese universities. Distance Education, 40(4), 515-533. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2019.1680272
Go to original source...
- Zawacki-Richter, O., Marín, V. I., Bond, M., & Gouverneur, F. (2019). A systematic review of research on artificial intelligence applications in higher education-where are the educators? International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0171-0
Go to original source...
- Zheng W, Lu S, Cai Z, Wang R, Wang L, Yin L (2023). PAL-BERT: An Improved Question Answering Model. Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2023.046692
Go to original source...