From Policy to Practice in the Digital Transformation of Higher Education: A Comprehensive Roadmap Based on a Meta-Synthesis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Educational Technology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Instructional Technology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University

10.30473/t-edu.2025.75341.1307

Abstract

The digital transformation of higher education faces the key challenge of a "gap between policy and practice," which often leads to the sporadic and uncoordinated adoption of technology in universities. This research aims to present a comprehensive roadmap to bridge this gap and strategically guide digital transformation with a focus on smart technologies (such as Artificial Intelligence) and converging technologies (NBIC). Utilizing the qualitative meta-synthesis method (Sandelowski & Barroso) and analyzing over 50 authoritative sources (2014–2025), including scholarly articles, policy reports, and global rankings, this study develops the roadmap. The roadmap is built upon four main, interdependent pillars, including key success criteria as strategic foundations, executive strategies as the operational path, an ethical-legal framework to ensure responsible governance, and comprehensive evaluation indicators to measure progress and outcomes. The primary innovation of this model lies in its cyclical and dynamic structure, which transforms the roadmap into a learning and adaptive tool by continuously using evaluation results to refine strategies. By providing a practical and evidence-based path, this research offers a powerful tool for policymakers and university administrators to enable the transition from fragmented policymaking to integrated practice, positioning their institutions for a strategic and forward-looking future.

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History

  • Receive Date: 01 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 06 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 14 November 2025
  • First Publish Date: 20 November 2025
  • Publish Date: 20 November 2025

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