Microsoft has recently revealed its findings from its Unlocking the Economic Impact of Digital Transformation in Asia Pacific study, particularly the higher education sector. The study showed that universities that have adopted the technology changes witnessed a 14 to 19 percent advancements in areas of student engagement, leveraging on new and current education products and services, higher rate of teaching innovation and profit margins.
Respondents polled also revealed that they have foreseen to witness at least 40 percent improvement to the top five benefits tracked in three years.
The present curriculum and systems have been perceived by approximately 72 percent of the respondents in the education sector as being capable of equipping young professionals with future-ready skills to meet the needs of digital transformation.
Education is fundamental to the growth of economies. Therefore, in the current digital age, institutions will not only need to impart hard skills but also focus on establishing future skills among students. In addition, the student profiles are now dynamic. The research demonstrated that leaders in the higher education landscape reckoned an established digital transformation strategy will bring about yield conclusive benefits in student engagement and empowered faculty, according to Larry Nelson, Regional General Manager, Education, Microsoft Asia.
The study also found that universities are questioning the impact of technology towards students’ consumption habits; the need to enhance curriculum quality and relevance and new disruptive competitors in market. Other priorities identified included the need to gain a holistic view of students, staff, partners and suppliers as well as to enhance institutional agility in responding to fast-moving trends and opportunities.
Universities will need to create a holistic vision and integrate various tools and data into a unique, intelligent system so as to conform to the education transformation. To achieve this objective, leaders will have to allow for lifelong learning among all students, establish connected experiences both on- and off- campus, provide the opportunity for vast research capabilities and creating effective institutions that can meet the dynamic market needs.
In Singapore, the National University of Singapore (NUS) will be partnering with Microsoft to withhold the aptitude of Microsoft Academic Graph (MAG), hosted on Azure, to sustain its research and innovation capabilities. NUS aims to leverage both MAG and AI technology to attain and anaylse knowledge embedded in the publications’ data. Researchers from NUS School of Computing will also be utilising MAG to carry out healthcare-related research.
For any institution to thrive in the age of digital transformation, a digital footprint is required. Data is fundamental to unravel the digital potential of universities, particularly with the present volume of data that is available. It is also important for academic leaders to explore new KPIs to assess data usage and how such information can be utilised to enhance the present delivery of education services and push innovation.
Source: Microsoft
Join us in the upcoming QS-APPLE 2018 from 21-23 November 2018 in Seoul, South Korea, as we discuss the topic on “Future Universities in the Asia-Pacific: The Changing Face of Higher Education”.