Before COVID-19, many universities were digital laggards. Although there were pockets of innovation, the university experience had not changed for decades, with in-person classes and paper-based assessments the norm, much to the displeasure of many students.
But in 2020 there was radical change in the sector. Universities had to rapidly pivot to remote, online delivery of courses – acquiring new systems and tools and uplifting the capability of teaching staff, students, and other stakeholders. This was clearly a challenging time for the sector, but the embrace of digital tools and reimagining of the business model almost overnight demonstrated that higher education’s previous reticence to embrace digital ways of working was misplaced.
This evolution shows no sign of abating. The 2022 Nous Group University COO Survey found that 59 per cent of chief operating officers had increased their digital investment in the previous year, compared to only 18 per cent that had reduced it.
Although it was critical to survival during COVID-19, the digital ways of working adopted by universities have created enduring benefits. There is a wider reach as courses are now accessible to more students, and staff have greater flexibility in how they teach and balance this with other responsibilities. Digital approaches are also resulting in cost savings, including reducing universities’ dependence on large-scale infrastructure development to increase service delivery.
“Digital transformation in student acquisition and service delivery will enhance the financial performance of the university, allowing greater investment in academic activity and improvement in rankings and recognition, thus producing a virtuous cycle of growth.”
As one COO told us
