Digital innovation requires digital leadership

Student-centric innovation means pulling in the right technology at the right time to deliver the most impactful experiences, touchpoints, and supports to guide our students on their individual journeys. For campus leadership, that means putting in place a comprehensive technology strategy that aligns with the need to support agile decision-making and changing services.

Once technology is out of the box, underpinning every corner of campus, digital strategy must in turn move from backstage to the spotlight, and leaders across campus must pick up this collective mandate. Today, every leader is a digital leader. For many, the learning curve will be steep, but it’s necessary as leaders across the campus community weigh in on technology decisions to help balance rational, considered investment with fast-cycle innovation. As you contemplate your role in your institution’s digital transformation, read on for three guiding principles of student-centered digital change.

Once technology is out of the box, underpinning every corner of campus, digital strategy must in turn move from backstage to the spotlight, and leaders across campus must pick up this collective mandate. Today, every leader is a digital leader. For many, the learning curve will be steep, but it’s necessary as leaders across the campus community weigh in on technology decisions to help balance rational, considered investment with fast-cycle innovation. As you contemplate your role in your institution’s digital transformation, read on for three guiding principles of student-centered digital change.

1. Student service must drive technology investments

The adoption of technology should always be driven by campus strategy and the acute or emergent needs of higher education’s missions: teaching and learning, research, and community service. As our notions of “student” continue to be transformed by the economy and the industry shifts to deliver differentiated, student-centric experiences, the service models of higher education will shift in accordance. With changing needs come new priorities, and in turn, different strategies—all with different technology requirements.