About the topic Areas of the Digital Technology Implementation Strategy

Theoretically, the thematic unit Areas of the Digital Technology Implementation Strategy analyzes various digital maturity frameworks that define the areas of digital technology application strategy in different ways. The unit presents seven areas of the digital technology application strategy, specific examples of digital technology implementation for each area from Croatia and the world, as well as an overview of trends in the field. Additionally, it demonstrates the link between areas of digital technology application and two digital maturity frameworks for higher education – DigCompOrg and the Digital Maturity Framework for Higher Education Institutions (DMFHEI). In practical terms, participants work in pairs to select a higher education institution of their choice (preferably their own) and, independently or with the help of responsible persons (members of management), conduct an evaluation of the institution in order to identify its overall digital maturity and that of each of the seven digital maturity areas. Learning outcomes at the level of this thematic unit are as follows:

• explain the main idea of relevant frameworks for assessing the digital maturity of educational institutions (2/understanding);
  
• categorize the business processes of a higher education institution into the corresponding areas of the digital technology implementation strategy (4/analysis);
  
• describe current development trends of higher education institutions in different areas of the digital technology implementation strategy (2/understanding);
  
• evaluate the digital maturity of a higher education institution (6/evaluation).
  

To begin, reflect on the term digital maturity of a higher education institution and try to define it in your own words.

After doing so, choose an option from those provided that most closely matches how you described the term in your own words. It may seem that another explanation among the options better corresponds to the actual meaning of digital maturity of higher education institutions, but select the one that is closest to your own initial definition.

Watch the video lesson on the areas of the digital technology implementation strategy (duration: 6 minutes) to learn more about digital maturity, and the areas in which the digital maturity of higher education institutions can be measured, and become familiar with the topic.

Transcript

	Hello and welcome! To develop effective strategic plans at the institutional level, it's best to focus on smaller components, specific areas of digitalization that we analyze individually while keeping the big picture in mind. In this video lesson, we'll explore the strategic areas for applying digital technologies and various frameworks used to assess an institution's digital maturity. After completing this topic, you'll be able to describe the components and areas of a digital technology strategy and assess the digital maturity of a higher education institution, both within specific areas and at the institutional level. One of the key benefits of assessing digital maturity is identifying areas that require improvement - a valuable input for development, a digital technology strategy. Research in this field has produced more than 20 frameworks for assessing the digital maturity of educational institutions. The authors of these frameworks define the areas of the digitalization in different ways. Within these areas, they specify descriptors or elements that describe the institution's digital maturity. Some frameworks also include instruments that quantify maturity levels. Most frameworks are designed for schools. One example is the Croatian e-Schools framework In higher education, well-known frameworks include HeDiCom, Higher Education Digital Capability Framework, and and HEInnovate. Others, such as OpenEdu The European Commission's, DigComp frameworks -  DigComp (for citizens), DigCompEdu (for educators), and DigCompOrg for educational institutions are applicable more broadly. DCOM org in particular supports strategic planning for digital technologies. Next we'll briefly define the areas of a digital technology strategy. Different frameworks represent these areas in slightly different ways, sometimes as one domain, sometimes as several. The visual that follows will show how we map the strategic areas in the DigCompOrg framework and the Digital Maturity Framework or HEIs developed by the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Organization and Informatics. The area teaching, learning, and assessment in a digital environment covers how digital technologies are integrated into teaching, learning, and assessment processes. The strategy should define how technology enhances teaching methods, supports personalized learning, and enables continuous performance monitoring. Digital Competences include the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for effective and responsible use of digital technologies. The strategy in this area defines goals for developing digital competencies among teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as students. Digital culture refers to the values, beliefs, and practices that foster openness, collaboration, innovation, and responsible technology use. The strategy should create an environment that promotes digital inclusion, ethical technology use, and a culture of knowledge sharing. Digital content includes educational materials and resources in digital form. Whether produced internally, adapted or sourced externally, the strategy defines how digital content is developed, curated, and used in line with pedagogical goals and accessibility standards. Infrastructure and services refer to the technical resources and support systems enabling efficient and secure digital transformation. The strategy sets standards and objectives for developing network infrastructure. Digital platforms user support, maintenance and security. Research in the digital environment involves promoting scholarly activity through digital tools, open science, and collaborative platforms. The strategy defines approaches for open access to data and publications, digital repositories, data analysis tools, and international cooperation. Stakeholder engagement and communication in a digital environment covers how an institution involves its stakeholders, teachers, students, partners, the community through digital channels. The strategy should outline goals and tools for two-way communication, participatory decision-making, and strengthening the academic community through digital platforms. In the accompanying learning materials, you'll find detailed descriptions of the strategic areas for applying digital technologies. In the practical part, you'll use the digital maturity assessment instrument to evaluate your institution's level of digital maturity. From this short analysis, we can conclude that different frameworks for assessing the digital maturity of higher education institutions approach the topic in similar but distinct ways. The key is to conduct detailed analyses at lower levels to understand their impact at higher and institutional levels. Think globally, act locally!

Now that you have learned that a higher education institution can undergo digital transformation as a whole by creating and implementing a comprehensive strategy that covers all areas at once—or that each area can be digitally transformed separately through individual strategic plans—reflect on the state of strategic planning for digital transformation at your institution.

After familiarizing yourself with the content of the topic through the video lesson, expand your knowledge by analyzing the book Areas of the Strategy for the Implementation of Digital Technologies. The results of your practical work (the analysis of the digital maturity of the selected higher education institution) should be submitted via the system and documented in Worksheet 2 in the Excel file (used for the entire e-course project). You will also discuss your findings during the synchronous session.