THE EFFECT OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ON HIGHER EDUCATION DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC. A CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

COVID-19 Pandemic has brought about an abrupt change in people’s lives. Lecturers and
students have been forced to change their teaching and learning approaches to e-learning methods
due to closure of higher education institutions and disruptions of academic programs. Social
distancing and confining movements have significantly disrupted traditional teaching and learning
methods. The Covid-19 crisis has offered a chance to embrace digital learning approaches in
higher education. Digital transformation has rejuvenated teaching and learning processes during
Covid-19 pandemic. The tremendous adversities caused by Covid-19 has forced students and
lecturers to use digital technologies in tackling learning adversities. Digital transformation has
enormously affected higher education which ultimately has led to creation of innovative learning
opportunities. This concept paper begins with a critical literature review on the concepts of digital
transformation, higher education and Covid-19, followed by theoretical framework. Subsequent
section discusses digital transformation and higher education concepts and their relationships.
This is followed by literature review summary and research gaps and concludes with conceptual
model and the study hypotheses. The concept paper also describes the effects of digital
transformation on higher education during Covid-19 pandemic.
Keywords: Digital Transformation, Higher Education, Covid-19 Pandemic and e-Learning.