Digital Universities, Human Drivers: Strategies and Skills for Transformation
This session explores the interplay between digital transformation and key stakeholders in higher education, drawing on recent data and institutional practices from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France. It focuses on strategic orientations, governance models, and the professional development of digital leaders.
The first paper, “Results of the 2025 ZKI Top Trends Survey”, reports on a large-scale survey investigating organizational responsibilities in digitalisation and AI-related initiatives at universities, identifying both successful strategies and causes of project failures.
The second paper, “The Development and Status of Digitalization at German, Austrian and Swiss Universities”, presents a longitudinal study of digital infrastructures and practices across academic functions, with emphasis on the impact of the pandemic and emerging AI tools.
The third contribution, “How Are University CIOs Trained in 2025? The French Touch”, examines the evolving training landscape for university CIOs in France, focusing on strategic, managerial, and technical skill development through coordinated national programs.
Together, the papers offer a rich and comparative perspective on how various institutional actors drive, shape, and sustain digital transformation in European higher education.
Moderators: Christa Winqvist and Vlad Petcu
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The development and status of digitalization Germany Austria Switzerland
