Digital Transformation Adoption and AI-integrated Smart Learning Ecosystems in Higher Education Industry in Telangana

Abstract

Introduction: To achieve India’s Vision Viksit Bharat@2047, the focus on digital transformation (DT) has revolutionized the services industry particularly in the Higher education sector. Keeping in view of the global demands, the higher educational institutions (HEIs) are fostering data driven restructuring of the teaching and learning process (TLC) to enhance educational outcome to excel and provide personalized smart learning ecosystem for learners. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education and the adoption of digital transformation is the core objective of the research paper.
Objectives: The study explores the AI integrated avenues for Smart learning in HEIs. The study aims to examine the adoption of digital transformation in HEIs in Telangana. The study performs gap analysis between learners’ expectations and experiences on smart classrooms and AI augmented learning ecosystems in HEIs. Further, the study analyzes the factors facilitating the digital transformation in HEIs pertaining to AI integration.
Methodology: Study is based on mixed methods research design comprising descriptive and experimental research design. Descriptive research design is applied to analyze what factors influence the facilitation of digital transformation in HEIs and examined between expectations and experiences pertaining to AI augmented learning eco systems using experimental research design through hypothesis testing using paired sample t-test. The analysis of adoption of digital transformation in HEIs covers the universities of select categories functioning in Telangana State. The primary data covers the perception of the learners pertaining to their expectations and experiences in select districts of Telangana. The secondary data supplements the research paper in the form of literature review extracted from journals, news papers, research data bases and internet sources. The selection of sample respondents is based on stratified purposive sampling method. A total of 400 respondents are selected for the sample study which is statistically found feasible at 5% margin of error and 95% confidence interval.
Findings: The results show that, remarkable variation is observed in terms of adoption of digital transformation in HEIs particularly in various categories of universities functioning in the state of Telangana. The study on primary sources of data shows that, for the variables on real time feedback, subscriptions to learning platforms, interactive teaching through digital technologies, learning transformations, e-books and digital learning, chatbots and visual assistants, AI supported academic advising, virtual simulations, LMS integrated with AI, no remarkable variation is observed.
The factor analysis results statistically prove that, the 15 variables/items were analyzed through factor analysis and underlying dimensions represent 3 factors. The 3 factors which facilitate digital transformation are Digital infrastructure; AI augmented teaching and personalized learning. Based on the results from the primary and secondary sources of data the AI integrated digital transformation tree is developed to cover AI augmented learning eco system for the sustainable development of higher education in the era of impact of AI across industries.