The Impact of the Digital Age on Higher Education: Beyond Transformation from the Physical Space to the Digital Sphere

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of digitization on higher education by comparing the measures taken by universities at the beginning of the digital age and after the consequences of digitization are observed. The measures taken at the start of the digital age were to transfer transactions from the physical space to the digital sphere, a goal that has, for the most part, been achieved. On the other hand, digitization has moved higher education toward evidence-based decision-making, quantified research evaluation, and modularized flexible higher education provision. Digitization, which has progressed in alignment with the ongoing worldwide university reform and has even accelerated this reform, has affected a fundamental change to the higher education system. Worldwide university reform, which has been driven by globalization, marketization, and massification trends in higher education, has almost reached a saturation point. However, digitization is pushing higher education into a new phase. Higher education across the globe needs to pursue and implement new digitization measures for reform to have the kind of impact required.