Technology ecosystems to rethink universities in the digital age

The last two decades have been characterised by the widespread integration of technology into education, and universities and higher education have been no exception. During this time, the use and application of technology in teaching and management (more than in research) have been approached more from an instrumental perspective. Tools and applications have taken centre stage. Although most universities around the world have digitalisation plans, virtual campuses and numerous technological tools and resources, evidence of the reality and the pandemic have highlighted the fact that we are still a long way from achieving the digital transformation needed to tackle the challenges we face. It is necessary to go a step further by considering higher education institutions as a digital ecosystem from an organisational and strategic point of view. The perspective needed to ensure that this ecosystem is balanced involves adopting a shared vision of all areas (management, teaching and research) and all groups (teaching staff, students and administration and services staff), with a clear commitment to integration, equity and sustainability, both institutionally and socially.