Development of a Framework for the Digitalization of Higher Education Based on a Comparative Analysis of Global Experiences across Over 40 Countries

Authors
shirin rajabibazl 1
Abasalt Khorasani 2
Hamid Reza Yazdani 3
farnoosh alami 4
1 PhD Candidate in Higher Education Management, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Faculty of Public Administration and Organizational Sciences, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
4 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This study aims to provide a theoretical and policy-oriented framework for the digitalization of higher education through a comparative analysis of policies and experiences from 40 countries with varying levels of digital maturity. It highlights the pressing need to identify the overarching dimensions of digital transformation from a holistic perspective—one that integrates dispersed evidence through systematic data aggregation and qualitative synthesis to construct an evidence-based strategic model. Using a qualitative meta-synthesis approach, the study identifies six key dimensions of digital policy-making: infrastructure, digital teaching and learning, capability assessment, stakeholder engagement, macro-level strategies, and cultural mindset shift. The findings offer an evidence-informed guide for formulating actionable and context-specific strategies to accelerate digital transformation in higher education. Moreover, they demonstrate that the concurrent integration of these dimensions can serve as a robust foundation for designing effective national and institutional policies in this critical domain.
Keywords
Higher Education Policymaking
Digital Transformation
Higher Education.
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 15 March 2025
  • Revise Date 09 September 2025
  • Accept Date 08 September 2025
  • Publish Date 23 September 2026