How to approach digital transformation in higher education: report and case studies

Our pilots found that adopting a strategic approach to digital transformation can stimulate a review of existing processes, structures and management practices. It enables organisations to ask questions about their current state and to assess readiness, investment plans, governance and vision for the future.

“As Pro-vice-chancellor for education and students, I'm responsible for the strategy for education and students. But to really make that step change and transformation in the student journey, I need to be able to work and embed AI and digital transformation across the whole of the university. The Jisc framework enabled me to do that, creating shared languages, shared understanding, so that colleagues understood what it was we were trying to do, agreed the way forward so that we have one vision, one plan that everybody's working towards. That's been transformative for us as a university.”

Professor Judy Williams, pro-vice-chancellor for education and students, Queen's University Belfast

Our digital transformation toolkit is a set of online documents and resources developed in consultation with a range of UK professional bodies and our senior leaders working group. This ensures it reflects sector priorities and links to key UK HE models and frameworks already in use.

“One of the big values of Jisc’s framework and the work that we've done in the pilot project is it actually gives us a strong set of benchmarks and targets for us to work around. I think that sense of having a holistic view of digital transformation is very helpful. It's culturally centred rather than technologically centred, which I think helps it to form a better approach.”

Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein, president, City St George’s, University of London

Our toolkit is made up of:

• Digital transformation in higher education guide – designed to introduce users to digital transformation and how to take it forward within their organisation, and support them to decide which toolkit resources to use
• Framework for digital transformation in higher education – describes the six elements that make up the digital transformation framework. It contains strategic statements and example activities
• Maturity model for digital transformation in higher education (pdf) – provides a structure to assess digital maturity across all aspects of business by describing three levels of maturity for every business area, represented by 99 numbered sub-elements nested within the six elements

Successful digital transformation requires effective digital leadership, appropriate investment, robust secure infrastructure, engaged stakeholders and digitally capable staff and students. The complexities and scale of higher education providers present challenges to achieving ambitious digital strategies.

Seven actions that maximise impact and minimise risk

1. Connect digital transformation activities with organisational strategy
2. Identify which parts of the toolkit can support your needs
3. Engage cross-institutional senior leaders and stakeholders
4. Collect data and make decisions based on evidence
5. Consider the digital capabilities of those who will be affected by change
6. Identify change opportunities at different resourcing levels and timeframes
7. Review, adapt, and refresh your digital transformation strategy regularly

Learn from HE providers who have used the digital transformation toolkit

Each case study includes details about that provider’s organisational drivers, how they adapted the toolkit, the elements and sub-elements of the framework they referred to, the staff roles involved, the perceived benefits and potential impact of using the toolkit, and their planned next steps.

“Being involved in Jisc’s digital transformation pilot has been very important for Bath Spa University. It's enabled us to track our progress, to identify any gaps and to formulate our plans for the future. And the fact that it is a framework which has been devised with best practice across the sector has been invaluable to us.”

Professor Georgina Andrews, Vice-chancellor, Bath Spa University

The 12 case studies

These case studies are designed to support you in considering how you and your organisation might benefit from using the toolkit.

Bath Spa University case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit supports organisation-wide digital maturity assessment: reviewing digital strategy, identifying gaps and highlighting the importance of digital fluency.

University of Chester case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit supports move to a new VLE: connecting digital infrastructure change with learning and teaching improvement opportunities by facilitating a community-based digital culture shift.

City St George’s, University of London case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit supports a focus on organisational digital culture: the importance of senior management support to embed ‘people focus’ into ongoing digital change programmes.

Université Côte d’Azur, France case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit provides a common global language: discussing digital transformation opportunities across international university partnerships.

University of Hull case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit supports cultural engagement with three new IT enterprise platforms: from rollout to ‘business as usual’ requires early staff engagement and support for digital capabilities.

University of Manchester case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit supports institutional change programme: from implementation of a new central learning environment to consideration of the broader organisational digital culture needs.

Queen’s University Belfast case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit focuses on future AI practice: using the toolkit to support institutional co-creation of a new AI strategy.

Royal Northern College of Music case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit informs development of a new digital strategy: using the resources to stimulate senior leadership discussions and co-create a holistic plan for the next four years.

Sheffield Hallam University case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit boosts ongoing digital initiatives: providing a language and adaptable framework to describe ongoing transformation and better engage executive-level leaders.

University of St Andrews case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit supports strategic initiative: an inclusive, incremental and people-centred approach to evolving the institution’s online learning offer.

University of Westminster case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit for evidence-based decision making: using the maturity model to identify and prioritise improvement opportunities, with a focus on organisational digital culture.

University of Worcester case study (pdf)

Jisc’s digital transformation toolkit informs strategic update: supporting a strategic refresh and engaging staff to participate in the conversation.

The video case studies

Find out how Queen’s University Belfast is implementing digital transformation in their organisation.