Digital experiences in colleges worldwide have gained traction since the pandemic revealed the true value of learning tools like online classrooms and college mobile apps. Now, as many as 30% of students prefer establishments that utilize extensive technology in the classroom. And those figures are even higher amidst certain specialties.
Despite this undeniable call for increased technology use in the classroom, an average of 25% of students feel like their colleges remain behind the curve, resulting in what experts are now referring to as the ‘digital diversity divide’.
This divide is having a huge impact on the learning enjoyment of Gen Z students who increasingly expect digital accessibility. The question is, what’s really preventing colleges from improving the digital experience?
# 1 – A Lack of Awareness
According to a McKinsey study from 2022, a lack of awareness was the leading reason for lackluster digital efforts in higher education and was prevalent in 43% of cases. This study found that, despite understanding the value of technology, most higher education institutions lacked awareness of everything from what students expected from technology to the best ways to implement those tools.
Luckily this awareness has inevitably improved over the preceding two years, when an increasingly Gen-Z-heavy student base has gotten better at highlighting their need for entertaining and efficient tools, like VR classrooms. However, a general lack of digital awareness within college faculties is still largely preventing the action needed to truly incite change.
One way around this would be for colleges to simply gain a stronger understanding of what their specific student base requires via surveys and classroom studies. Working with more tech-savvy board members or experts could then be key to turning these expectations into reality.
# 2 – A Lack of Infrastructure
Awareness is one thing, but many outdated college facilities simply lack the infrastructure to implement viable digital change on-site. The growing use of digital technologies especially requires things like large data stores and sophisticated back-end infrastructures. Neither of which the majority of colleges have easily have to hand.
Obviously, one solution would be a sizable infrastructure investment but, as we’ll discuss a little later, limited budgets rarely stretch that far. Colleges can, therefore, often feel like their hands are tied, but alternative solutions are finally coming within reach.
Something as simple as outsourcing with a company like CampusWorks IT services is now becoming a viable option for many colleges. As well as providing vital processes like ongoing IT management and the introduction of key technologies including data mitigation, off-site infrastructure management through a company like this can help to identify and improve outdated systems, thus boosting infrastructure capacities without risking high overheads.
# 3 – A Need for Immediate Change
The harsh reality is that colleges need to implement changing digital experiences right now to meet student expectations. Yet, it can take around two to three years to implement a quality digital experience across institutions this large. This creates something of a gap between student expectations and viable tech capabilities, particularly in light of seemingly overnight online shifts in the pandemic days.
To some extent, outsourcing can also be a huge help here, allowing college faculties to more easily implement experiences like digital enrollment and personalized learning portals. However, it’s also worth noting that colleges can benefit from leading, rather than following digital advancements. In other words, getting ahead requires foresight to understand the upcoming trajectory of specific student needs, and the future potential of technologies like AI and machine learning to meet those needs in the digital sphere.
# 4 – Budget Constraints
It’s no secret that college funding has been falling short for a fair few years now. Unsurprisingly, the aforementioned McKinsey study also revealed that digital experiences simply remained too expensive in 33% of cases. This is especially true in instances where entire infrastructure overhauls are required.
Working with outside companies, especially on an ongoing, managed basis, can help here as it removes the need to train on-site college staff members. Ongoing professional oversight can also reduce the risks of things like IT downtime, which could otherwise prove costly. However, to truly embrace the cost of digital change, experts are increasingly emphasizing the importance of investment. In particular, colleges who can get their shareholders onboard, and secure sizable lump sum contributions as a result, will be in a far better position to mitigate technology costs.
# 5 – Security Concerns
AI technologies are at the helm of enabling everything from virtual learning environments to personalized digital platforms tailored to each student’s specialty and skill level. However, as is the case across the entirety of AI advancements, there are vital concerns regarding security and the use of technologies like these. The risk of cyber threats particularly grows as college data stores grow, and this, mixed with potentially lackluster infrastructures, can feel like a data breach waiting to happen.
Clear policies and procedures on data access and data use are the best ways around this issue, as is continual monitoring, preferably from an out-of-house company that can more actively address threats in real time. Colleges should also make sure that they’re always implementing strong security procedures alongside digital developments, including encrypted software, access controls, and regular security audits that ensure updated, relevant protections at all times.
Can Colleges Really Bridge the Digital Gap?
As the tech-based demands of Gen Z students continue to grow, it’s only natural to question whether colleges can truly bridge the digital gap. The simple answer is yes, but it’s certainly not without its difficulties.
In reality, college institutions that are often grounded in tradition have a long way to go before they can truly get up to speed with digital experiences and expectations. That said, the ability to work with outside professionals and implement technology into their existing processes is a fantastic place to start.
As such, while college digital experiences might not move with the speed of advancement in other areas, the future of technology in higher education looks a lot brighter than it did even a few short years ago.
