Higher Education Digital Services: Transforming Higher Education Through Digital Innovation for Enhanced Accessibility and Personalization

Higher education institutions are modernizing with cloud and smart campus technologies to enhance collaboration, personalization, and engagement. They are using tools such as AI, AR/VR, adaptive assessments, and virtual labs to promote interactive learning. To improve affordability, they are expanding financial aid, offering online degrees, and partnering with industry for upskilling in fields such as data science and cybersecurity.

Both demand- and supply-side trends are covered in Avasant’s Higher Education Digital Services 2024 Market Insights‚Ñ¢ and Higher Education Digital Services 2024 RadarView‚Ñ¢, respectively. These reports present a comprehensive study of digital service providers in the higher education industry, including top trends, analysis, and recommendations. The reports also take a close look at the leaders, innovators, disruptors, and challengers in this market.

We evaluated 23 service providers across three dimensions: practice maturity, investments and innovation, and partner ecosystem. Of the 23 providers, we recognized 11 that brought the most value to the market during the past 12 months.

The reports recognize service providers across four categories:

• • Leaders: HCLTech, IBM, Infosys, and TCS
  • Innovators: Cognizant and LTIMindtree
  • Disruptors: Accenture and Wipro
  • Challengers: Atos, Burwood Group, and Fujitsu

Figure 1 below from the full report illustrates these categories:

“Digital technologies are transforming learning into a more personalized and immersive experience,” said Avasant Senior Fellow and Principal Rob Devers. “Through competency-based education, adaptive assessments, and virtual labs, institutions are engaging students in dynamic, skill-building environments.”

The reports provide several findings, including the following:

• • Higher education institutions are prioritizing legacy modernization and cloud technologies as essential steps in driving digital transformation, boosting collaboration, accessibility, and efficiency. By integrating advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, and AR/VR, they are evolving into smart campuses, offering dynamic, interactive, and personalized experiences.
  • These institutions are implementing competency-based education and adaptive assessments, along with bite-sized resources, to drive personalization in learning and enhance engagement.
  • They are aligning curricula with industry needs, focusing on fields such as data science, AI, and cybersecurity to ensure students are industry-ready.
  • Higher education institutions are making education more affordable and flexible by expanding financial aid, implementing tuition-free programs, and offering income-share agreements.
  • They are promoting equity through affirmative action policies and inclusive practices, ensuring all students have access to quality education and opportunities for success. They are driving green campus initiatives by adopting sustainable practices, promoting energy efficiency, and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility.

“Institutions are addressing rising education costs with digital innovation,” said Eratha Poongkuntran, research leader at Avasant. “By adopting online degrees, open educational resources, and flexible payment options, they are creating affordable and accessible pathways for diverse student needs.”

The RadarView also features detailed profiles of 11 service providers, along with their solutions, offerings, and experience in assisting higher education enterprises in their digital transformation journeys.

This Research Byte is a brief overview of Avasant’s Higher Education Digital Services 2024 Market Insights‚Ñ¢ and Higher Education Digital Services 2024 RadarView‚Ñ¢ (click for pricing).