The Global Voice of Higher Education
| Digital transformation of Higher Education |
The digital transformation of society is inevitably reshaping the higher education sector and it impacts the way HEIs operate at all levels, from governance to teaching and learning, from the content of curricula to knowledge production and research activities. This constitutes an important transformation of higher education that comes both with new opportunities as well as challenges. It is an ongoing process that higher education institutions are reacting to, interacting with, shaping to remain relevant and to adapt to increasingly digitalised societies.
IAU Strategy (2022-2030):
The IAU Strategy 2030 includes the following strategic objectives to guide the work of the Association in this area:
- Bridging digital divides through knowledge sharing and building global intelligence to enhance quality of and access to higher education
- Opening up knowledge for humanity
- Fostering innovations in teaching and learning in an increasingly digital world
INTRODUCTION
The IAU activities in this field are organized around the following core functions:
Global advocacy
Digital transformation is one of the four key priorities in its Strategic Plan.
Monitoring transformations
As a global Association with members in all regions of the world, the IAU has a unique position to monitor trends around the world in order to favour exchange of best practices. In end of 2018 and beginning of 2019 the IAU conducted an Open Consultation to monitor the current state of digital transformation within higher education institutions (HEI). This stocktaking exercise also served to the development of the new Policy Statement which will be submitted to the 16th IAU General Conference for adoption. The consultation led to a report entitled: Higher Education in the Digital Era: The current state of transformation around the world which was released in January 2020 a few months prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, IAU has been monitoring transformations through it Global Surveys on the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Higher Education.
Catalyst for collaboration and exchange
IAU plays an important role as a catalyst for collaboration and exchange. In the field of digital transformation and higher education, IAU seeks to pursue this mission through a series of different activities.
IAU-UOC SERIES: INNOVATIVE EDUCATION FOR UNSHAPED FUTURES (IE4UF)
IAU and UOC (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) have partnered to develop a series of 6 chapters to explore some of the changes we are currently observing in higher education under the title: Innovative Education for Unshaped Futures (IE4UF).
IDOCOS PROJECT
The IDOCOS project seeks to leverage the opportunity of the accelerated pace of digital transformation during the Covid-19 pandemic by proposing an innovative approach to co-creation and sharing of doctoral courses among universities in different countries.
INSTITUTIONAL SITE VISITS
IAU launched a new programme in 2019 which is the institutional site visits where higher education institutions that are very innovative or advanced in using technology in higher education in order to improve the quality or to widening access to higher education, invite IAU Members to attend a 2-day meeting to learn from their experiences. The first programme took place at UOC in Barcelona.
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GLOBAL ADVOCACY
IAU Policy Statement
In the context of the rapid development of digital technologies, which affects society and higher education, IAU has developed a IAU Policy Statement 2022 to outline the key principles and values that must underpin the digital transformation. This policy statement serves as the framework for the Association’s actions in this field for the period 2022-2030.
Expert Advisory Group
The development of the IAU Policy Statement was steered by an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) composed of experts from different regions of the world as well as representatives of the IAU Administrative Board. It was also opened for a Membership consultation and student Associations were invited to provide their feedback and comments.
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MONITORING
Introduction
As a global Association with members in all regions of the world, the IAU has a unique position to monitor trends around the world in order to favour exchange of best practices.
Global Survey Report on the State of Digital Transformation of Higher Education
IAU conducted its first Global Survey in the area of digital transformation from 1 November 2018 to 1 April 2019. The results of the survey was launched in the IAU Report: Higher Education in the Digital Era: The current state of transformation around the world in January 2020 just prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
An expert group will be set up for the development of the 2nd Global Survey Report in 2023 and the data collection is foreseen in 2024.
Higher Education in the Digital Era: The current state of transformation around the world - 1st IAU Global Survey Report (January 2020)
IAU is pleased to present this first stock-taking exercise in the field, and to contribute to discussing the current state of transformation, the risk of inequalities, the ethical implications and how to jointly leverage the potential of technological developments for a sustainable future.
Global Survey Report related to the the impact of the pandemic on higher education and the accelerated digital transformation
Since the beginning of the pandemic, IAU has been conducting Global Surveys to monitor the impact of the pandemic on higher education. These include perspectives on digital transformation which have clearly changed compared to prior to the pandemic. The first Report was launched in May 2020 only months into the pandemic and the second Report in March 2022 based on data collected in 2021.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education around the World - 1st IAU Global Survey (May 2020)
Almost all responding HEIs declared that they have been impacted one way or another by the COVID-19 crisis. The report presents a general assessment of the situation in universities globally and explores different aspects of the impact of COVID-19, such as: teaching & learning, research, community engagement and other key challenges and opportunities.
Higher Education One Year into the COVID-19 Pandemic - 2nd IAU Global Survey (March 2022)
In 2021, the IAU conducted the Second Global Survey to monitor the impact of the pandemic on higher education. The Survey Report offers a comprehensive picture of how higher education institutions have been affected by the difficult conditions under which they were operating during the pandemic. The report covers a broad institutional perspective, looking at governance, teaching and learning, research and community/societal engagement. 496 higher education institutions from 112 countries and territories responded to the survey. The report presents the results at the global level as well as by region. It also compares trends among public and private higher education institutions. It uncovers worrisome tendencies both in terms of funding and research, but it also reveals several transformations and opportunities that may have positive effects beyond the pandemic.
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IAU-UOC SERIES
IAU-UOC PUBLICATION: Improving Online Teaching: Practical Guide for Quality Online Education
ABOUT THE PUBLICATION
 | In complement to the IAU-UOC Innovative Education for Unshaped Futures (IE4UF) Series, IAU is happy to announce the publication of Improving Online Teaching: Practical Guide for Quality Online Education. After two years of pandemic related educational disruption, the need for strong and sustainable digital solutions for higher education is critically clear. The IAU-UOC collaboration to study the effects of and necessary solutions for online higher education learning has culminated in the publication of this text. The final draft will be submitted for official endorsement at the IAU 16th General Conference in Dublin on 25-28 October 2022 in Dublin, Ireland. |
IAU-UOC SERIES: INNOVATIVE EDUCATION FOR UNSHAPED FUTURES (IE4UF)
ABOUT THE SERIES
The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation of higher education. After a year of adapting to the sudden disruption of higher education and pivoting operations to increasingly rely on digital technologies in higher education, the new constant is uncertainty and a need for resilience to respond to fast changing environment. Within this context, the International Association of Universities (IAU) and UOC (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) have partnered in 2021 to develop a series to explore some of the changes we are currently observing in higher education under the title Innovative Education for Unshaped Futures (IE4UF). The series is divided into 6 chapters exploring different levels of change and moving from broader topics to more specific areas in the second part of the series. Each chapter includes perspectives from an online and a campus-based university. The recordings are available below.
PROGRAMME
CHAPTER I: Return to Campus: Making sense of (innovative) hybrid teaching and learning | Thursday, 10 June 2021
This first session in the series includes opening words from the leadership of the two partner organisations to officially kick off the series, followed by a discussion on the changes and innovations in teaching and learning. At Deakin University, students had access to both online and physical campus prior to the pandemic. Learn more about the current trends and developments as well as their vision for blended and hybrid modes of learning moving forward. UOC University, on the other hand, has 25 years of experience in fully online learning and shares experiences about leveraging the potential of this method. The last part of the session is dedicated to questions from the audience.
Speakers:
- Albert Sangrà, UNESCO Chair in Education & Technology for Social Change, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain
- Liz Johnson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Education, Deakin University, Australia.
Moderator:
- Trine Jensen, Manager, HE & Digital Transformation, International Association of Universities (IAU)
CHAPTER II: Assessment practices in hybrid and online HE scenarios | Tuesday, 22 June 2021
Speakers:
- Nati Cabrera, Professor and Director, Master Programme in Quality Evaluation and Management in Higher Education, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain.
- Henrik Hansson, ICT - Culture - Flexible Learning - Sustainable Development, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, Sweden.
Moderator:
- Albert Sangrà, UNESCO Chair in Education & Technology for Social Change, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain.
CHAPTER III: Leadership for Digital Education: Shortcuts and pitfalls | Thursday, 1 July 2021
Speakers:
- Josep M. Duart, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain.
- José Antonio Bowen, Senior Fellow, Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), USA.
Moderator:
- Deborah Arnold, AUNEGe, Digital University for Management and Economics, France.
CHAPTER IV: Designing Quality (Online) Learning | Thursday, 16 September 2021
Speakers:
- Sian Bayne, Professor of Digital Education, University of Edinburgh; Director, Centre for Research in Digital Education, Edinburgh Futures Institute, Scotland, UK.
- Marcelo Maina, Professor and Director Master Programme in Education and ICT (e-learning), Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain.
Moderator:
- Trine Jensen, Manager, HE & Digital Transformation, International Association of Universities (IAU).
CHAPTER V : Interaction and collaboration: being social in digital environments | Thursday, 30 September 2021
Speakers:
- Shanali Govender, Academic Staff Lecturer, Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
- Montse Guitert, Professor, Psychology and Education Department, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Moderator:
- Albert Sangrà, UNESCO Chair in Education & Technology for Social Change, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain.
CHAPTER VI: Data Governance: What should we be aware of?
Thursday, 14 October 2021 | 2:30 pm CEST (12:30 pm UTC)
Speakers:
- Nela Petkovic, CIO, Information and Communication Technologies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
- Juliana E. Raffaghelli, Ramón y Cajal Programme Researcher, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Moderator:
- Trine Jensen, Manager, HE & Digital Transformation, International Association of Universities (IAU)
IDOCOS PROJECT
INNOVATIVE DOCTORAL COURSE FOR SUSTAINABILITY (IDOCOS)
Introduction
Innovative Doctoral Courses for Sustainability (IDOCOS), focuses on how to secure both quality enhancement, an increased number of PhDs and increased efficacy. IDOCOS combines an innovative approach in co-creation and sharing with relevant existing building blocks and has the following five objectives:
To support and facilitate university staff and doctoral students across universities in different countries:
- In co-creation and sharing of digitalised courses and open learning materials prepared for quality online, flexible and blended teaching and learning.
- For adopting a scalable and robust methodology for co-creation and sharing of digitalised courses.
- Access to shared courses and open learning materials for teaching and learning.
- For access to relevant tools, (open when available) for co-creation and sharing of open courses and learning materials.
- In building competencies for digital transformation.
Visit the IDOCOS Portal
Funding source and partners
IDOCOS project is co-funded by the Erasmus + Strategic Partnership programme of the European Union and within this frame, the key target group for the project deliverables are universities in EU countries. Yet the group of partners is committed to building on the project and engaging with universities from different parts of the world and most particularly Africa.
The project runs from March 2021 to May 2023.
PARTNERS:
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- International Association of Universities (IAU)
- University of Bergen
- Nordic Insight
For more information, contact Trine Jensen
SITE VISITS
INSTITUTIONAL SITE VISITS
ABOUT IAU SITE VISITS
In March 2019, IAU launched a new programme entitled ‘Institutional Site Visits’. The purpose of these visits is to create opportunities for exchange among Members while meeting at a university that is very advanced in using digital innovations to improve higher education to learn from experiences at the host university. The aim of the programme is capacity building through exchange of information and experiences. The aim of the site visit is that the participants acquire new insights as to how to use technology and get ideas about how to adapt and use the information in his/her context.
The Institutional Site Visits are exclusively open to representatives of IAU Members (all categories)
The first edition took place at the UOC (see more below) as was a great success. The programme was temporarily suspended during the pandemic, but it is scheduled to resume in 2023. We look very much forward to pursuing these important site visits and learning about the innovations taking place across the world with peers from all regions of the world. So stay tuned....
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FIRST IAU SITE VISIT TOOK PLACE AT UNIVERSITAT OBERTA DE CATALUNYA (UOC) - MARCH 2019
The first IAU Site Visit was hosted by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) - the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) – which is the first fully online university worldwide. UOC welcomed 24 IAU Member representatives from 16 countries to Barcelona on 27-28 March in order to share their experience about online learning, the pedagogical and management model and its educational model based on personalization and accompanying students using e-learning.
When?: 27-28 March 2019
Where?: Barcelona, Spain
Watch a video from the Site Visit: click here
See the Agenda: click here
HOSTING A SITE VISIT
If you believe that your institution is a leader in this field and you wish to promote your institution and share your experience, consider hosting a site visit. Contact IAU to learn more.
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