Sustainability in Higher Education: Digital Transformation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Its Impact on Open Knowledge

Abstract

Education is important for sustainable development and drives innovation within national innovation systems. As developed economies move to matured stages of the fourth industrial revolution, the quality of education needs to keep up with the required technological changes brought about by the digital transformation created by these technologies. However, studies on the impact of the digital transformation of the higher education system and its effect on sustainability are few. This study bridged this gap by providing empirical evidence on the subject matter through a synergy of extant studies. The methodology used herein involves a combination of a systematic literature review and a bibliometric analysis. The results of this study show that the digital transformation of the higher education sector is leading to the development of sustainable curriculums, digitalization of the higher education, enhancement of innovation, and an improvement in the performance of students. It also shows that the future of the digital transformation of the higher education sector will include—the advancement of the concept of ‘Education 4.0’, an increase in gamification within the sector, a rise in the use of datafication in decision making, and the integration of artificial intelligence/augmented intelligence to reform higher education.

1. Introduction

The fourth industrial revolution is characterized by the advanced adoption of radical technologies and the co-existence of the virtual and real world [1]. One of the key concepts that the fourth industrial revolution is promoting is the concept of sustainability in various aspects of the modern society. One of such areas is ‘education’. The fourth industrial revolution has been able to achieve this through the adoption of advanced technologies that spur digital transformation. Digital transformation is an evolution of a business process through the use of revolutionary technologies that are customer focused [2,3].

Digital transformation within the education sector involves the usage of new and novel digital technologies that have the potential of bringing unprecedented change within the society, businesses, economies, and other aspects of the social sphere [4,5]. However, there is a paucity of evidence to demonstrate how the digital transformation of the fourth industrial revolution is leading to sustainability within the education sector. This study seeks to bridge this gap by providing empirical evidence on how it has been able to lead sustainability via leading open knowledge. Open knowledge can be defined as knowledge that is readily available to all, to freely modify, redistribute, and share [6,7].

To help achieve this goal, this study considered three research questions:

• What is the role of digital transformation in higher education?
• What is the impact of digital transformative education techniques on student innovation and performance?
• What is the future trajectory of digital transformation in education?

The methodology that was adopted in this study was a mix of a systematic literature review and a bibliometric analysis. The novelty of this study means that research relating to the subject matter is scarce. Hence, the adoption of the methodology is not only appropriate, but is the best-considering this fact. Furthermore, for the systematic review of literature, the adoption of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines and the use of VOSViewer for the bibliometric analysis ensured that the results obtained herein, can be replicated and verified. The scope of this study was limited to studies in South Korea, the United States (US), and the European Union (EU) because these are amongst the regions and countries that have conducted advanced research in this area of study [8].

The structure of this paper includes Section 1 that gives a brief background and the relevance of the study followed by a detailed Section 2. Next, is the Section 3—explaining the process used in the identification of contributions. The Section 4 contains an analysis of the results obtained, its implication, and how it provides answers to the research questions. Section 5 is the conclusion section that summarizes the study.

2. Methodology

The methodology used in this study is qualitative. It entails a mix of a systematic review of literature and a bibliometric analysis. A systematic literature review is a methodology that is suitable when the aim of a study is to synthesize the knowledge in existing studies on a subject matter [9]. This study falls into this category; hence, the adoption of this methodology is right. Furthermore, studies considering the relationship between the digital transformation of the advanced technologies of the fourth industrial revolution, and the higher education system are scarce. Hence, a review of extant literature is the most appropriate method for collecting information. While there are various guidelines for performing a systematic literature review, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guideline is one of the favorites of researchers.

The PRISMA 2020 guideline is an updated version of the PRISMA 2009 version [10]. It has new guidance that shows the styles for the identification, selection, appraisal, and synthesis of studies [11]. Within this statement, 27 guidelines are recommended for researchers to follow to ensure that systematic literature reviews meet the highest standards. An important consideration for the use of the PRISMA guideline is that it ensures transparency in the process involved in gathering contributions for a systematic literature review [12]. According to Sarkis-Onofre et al. [13], the PRISMA guideline presents an evidence-based approach to ensure transparency and a complete report of the contents of selected materials.

The bibliometric analysis is important for examining and processing the quantitative components of a systematic literature review. From the findings of the systematic literature review, a bibliometric map approach can be used to visualize bibliometric information and results [9]. The bibliometric analysis was used in this study to examine keyword trends relating to each research question. The software VOSViewer was utilized to conduct the bibliometric analysis. This is because according to UIC [14], this software is designed to create visuals for bibliometric relations. The key databases that were searched are SCOPUS and the web of science (SCIE and SSCI). This is because these are some of the most robust databases for conducting research [15,16,17].

3. Results and Analysis

Using the Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical and Relevant (FINER) framework, the keywords in

Table 1. Facet analysis using FINER framework for the first research question.

Feasibility		Interesting		Novel		Ethical		Relevant
Korea	AND	Higher education	AND	Education models	AND	Open knowledge	AND	Digital transformation
OR
US
OR
EU

were developed for the first research question (R₁). According to Fandino [18], the FINER framework is an important tool for researchers in developing good research questions. This is because for a study to be successful, a good research question needs to have been developed before the study starts. The FINER framework provides a set of steps that represents guides and structure for the development, prioritization, and logical construction of research questions in a study. The systematic literature search in this study was conducted on the third of December 2022. The steps taken in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines are presented in Figure 1, while the selected contributions are presented in

Table 2. Selected studies relating to the first research question.

S/No	Year of Publication	Author(s)	Summary
1	2018	Leal Filho et al. [19]	Digital transformation is leading to the sustainability of curriculums within higher education systems
2	2018	Lee [20]	Knowledge sharing enhanced by technology is building the individual creativity of students in higher education
3	2019	Aldowah et al. [21]	In higher education, Educational data mining (EDM) and Learning analytics (LA) are improving the ability of institutions to tailor education to the needs of students
4	2019	Kim et al. [22]	For the impact of digitalization in higher education to be optimized, students must improve their skills and engagement with digital tools
5	2019	Torres Kompen et al. [23]	The adoption of Web 2.0 is motivating students more and helping them to participate better in their learning process
6	2019	Santos et al. [24]	Communication between students and teachers in higher education institutions is greatly improved through digitalization that enhances the publication of research materials and interpersonal communication between these groups
7	2019	Holmes et al. [25]	Some of the benefits of AI in higher education include – adaptive learning, computer-based learning, and the development of intelligent tutoring system
8	2020	Agasisti et al. [26]	Sustainability within the education sector is being led by the digital transformative power of the adoption of innovation within the higher education sector
9	2020	Crawford et al. [27]	Knowledge-sharing amongst institutions is improved via digitalization
10	2020	Rof et al. [28]	The digital transformation of modern technologies is leading to the development of new business models that are enhancing innovation within the higher education sector
11	2020	Yureva et al. [29]	While the digital transformative power of innovation within the higher education is leading to positive change, the inability of teaching professionals to use these technologies properly, limits the impact recorded
12	2021	Alenezi [30]	For higher education to be relevant in the fourth industrial revolution, the realization of the digital transformative power of advanced technologies is a prerequisite
13	2021	García-Peñalvo [31]	To ensure inclusiveness, and participatory learning, universities need to adopt and use digitalization properly
14	2021	Han & Sa [32]	The Technology acceptance model (TAM) is a model of education brought about by digital transformation. Its impact can only be optimized through making online classes easy - to improve the participation of students
15	2021	Ngafeeson [33]	The digital strategy of the Global Campus (online campus) is championing a digital transformation in higher education that meets the high standards of traditional campuses and the needs of students
16	2022	Rof et al. [34]	The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of the digital transformative power of technology in higher education. This led to an advancement of digital based education
17	2022	Santos-Hermosa & Atenas [35]	Open education (OE), Open access (OA), and Open science (OSC) are enhancing open knowledge in higher education

.

A bibliometric analysis was performed on the selected contributions and the results of the keyword analysis are presented in Figure 2.

Using the FINER framework, the keywords in

Table 3. Facet analysis using FINER framework for the second research question.

Feasibility		Interesting		Novel		Ethical		Relevant
Korea	AND	Higher education	AND	Innovation	AND	Performance	AND	Digital transformation
OR
US
OR
EU

were developed for the second research question (R₂). The search was conducted on the fourth of December 2022, and the steps taken in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines are presented in Figure 3, while the results of the search are presented in

Table 4. Selected studies relating to the second research question.

S/No	Year of Publication	Author(s)	Summary
1	2018	Seres et al. [36]	While the digitalization of the higher education system is expensive, it is enhancing innovation in students and will benefit higher institutions in the long run
2	2019	Al-Rahmi et al. [37]	The use of E-learning systems in higher education is improving the performance of students
3	2019	Castro [38]	A blended approach to learning in higher education is helping higher education institutions developed a tailored approach to learning for students and makes it possible for students to learn at their own pace. This leads to an improvement in out of class activities and feedback
4	2019	Martin & Tapp [39]	Students in higher education agree that digitalization of education tools improves their performance
5	2019	Purcell et al. [40]	Living labs have been very instrumental in helping to improve the performance of higher education students in accessing scholarship
6	2020	Oke & Fernandes [41]	The digital transformation of the fourth industrial revolution has the potential of improving the innovativeness of students and preparing them for the workplace
7	2021	Galynska et al. [42]	The innovativeness and the need to study more in higher education students are enhanced by the use of advanced technologies in teaching

.

A bibliometric analysis was performed on the selected contributions and the results of the keyword analysis were presented in Figure 4.

Using the FINER framework, the keywords in

Table 5. Facet analysis using FINER framework for the third research question.

Feasibility		Interesting		Novel		Ethical		Relevant
Korea	AND	Higher education	AND	Future	AND	Performance	AND	Digital transformation
OR
US
OR
EU

were developed for the third research question (R₃). The search was conducted on the sixth of December 2022. The steps taken in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines are presented in Figure 5, while the results of the search are presented in

Table 6. Selected contribution relating to the third research question.

S/No	Year of Publication	Author(s)	Summary
1	2019	Almeida & Simoes [43]	The advancement in the digital technology of the fourth industrial revolution is leading to the development of the concept of education 4.0 and the role of gamification in education will increase
2	2019	Griffiths et al. [44]	In the future, the use of Bluetooth Beacon will increase, and this will improve students’ learning experience and effectiveness
3	2019	Hrastinski [45]	The future of higher education is a combination of face-face learning and the use of online-digital tools known as blended learning
4	2019	Jarke & Breiter [46]	Datafication will be very instrumental in decision making in higher education in the future and may promote a new type of digital divide
5	2019	Leal Filho et al. [47]	Digital transformation of advanced technologies is already having an impact on the sustainability of education, but is set to improve in the future
6	2019	Ruxandra [48]	The future of the digital transformation within the higher education sector will be an integration of the power of the technology to ensure an enhancement of creative thinking, and innovativeness in students
7	2019	Xu et al. [49]	Artificial intelligence will continue to impact higher education in medicine to improve the performance and innovativeness of students
8	2019	Zawacki-Richter et al. [50]	In the future, the use of artificial intelligence in higher education will be the backbone of education
9	2020	Abad-Segura et al. [51]	The advanced use of Augmented Reality in higher education is the future of the digital transformation of the technology
10	2020	Rosenbusch [52]	While the adoption of digital tools in higher education for teaching ‘human resource development’ is still in its infancy, in future, it is projected that its adoption will increase, and it will improve ‘human resource development’
11	2022	Díaz-García et al. [53]	The digital transformation of the higher education system leads to the support of knowledge creation and competency development of students - through the adoption of advanced technologies of the fourth industrial revolution

.

A bibliometric analysis was performed on the selected contributions and the results of the keyword analysis are presented in Figure 6.

4. Discussion

This section provides relevant answers to the research questions this study sought to provide answers to. It examined the results of the systematic review of literature and bibliometric analysis to provide answers to each research question. The results of the Systematic literature review (SLR) in this study relating to the first research question (R₁) show that digital transformation is leading to positive changes within higher education. According to Leal et al. [10], it is leading to the development of sustainable curriculums. These curriculums are based on seven key principles, which includes [54]:

(a)

Change and transformation.

(b)

Life learning and education for all.

(c)

Systematic thinking that concentrates on the importance of environmental, economic, social and political sustainability.

(d)

Problem solving skill development for a better future.

(e)

Critical reflection and thinking.

(f)

Partnership for change.

Likewise, Aldowah et al. [21] posits that digitalization is leading to a better tailoring of education to meet the needs of students. The importance of tailoring education to the needs of students is that it helps students overcome their weaknesses, focus on their strengths, breeds innovation, considers the disabilities of students, and ensures that students have the prerequisite foundation to better contribute to the society [25,55,56]. Furthermore, the digital transformation of the higher education system is improving communication between students and their teachers. This is important because good communication is a strong motivating factor for students to succeed in their academic endeavors [57].

The bibliometric analysis of the selected contributions shows the impact of digital transformation of the advanced technologies of the fourth industrial revolution on higher education. It is changing the business model of higher institutions, improving online learning, and leading to the integration of online education into traditional systems of learning. According to Falk & Lenz [58], the integration of enhanced education technology (Edtech) is leading to the development of innovative business models in higher education. This innovative business model helps higher education institutions to remain competitive. Secondly, innovation and technology are improving online learning. This is because [59]:

• it makes learning flexible;
• it reduces the cost of education compared to the traditional models of education;
• it brings diversity to the type of courses available to students;
• it propagates better tailoring of education to the needs of students;
• it improves accessibility to education.

The digital transformation of the higher education sector is leading to a blended system of learning that includes a mix of both online and offline learning options in higher education. According to Alammary et al. [60], there are three models of blended learning in higher education which are applied on a case-by-case approach and based on the expected results. These models include a low-impact blended model that builds on existing courses by adding extra activities, a medium-impact blended model that substitutes specific activities within existing courses, and a high-impact blended model that builds on a blended course from the scratch. This leads to an expansion of the scope of learning. These results are in-line with the expansive learning theory that emphasizes the improvement of knowledge of individuals based on their collective participation in an activity [55].

Next, the systematic review of literature and bibliometric analysis was used to provide answers to the second research question (R₂). The result of the SLR shows that indeed the digital transformation within the higher education system is enhancing the innovativeness and performance of students. This view is supported by Seres et al. [36] and Al-Rahmi et al. [37]. This is because a blended approach of learning improves both the performance and innovativeness of students in higher education [38]. In-addition to improving the performance of students, it also improves self-efficacy in students [61].

Serdyukov [62] posits that the digital transformation of the higher education sector improved the quality of education and reduces the cost of learning. However, it is important that a theoretical foundation for the integration of these technologies is employed to ensure that they deliver on the expected performance. This theoretical approach should be based on systemic research and a sound pedagogy [62]. Another important improvement that the digital transformation of the higher education system is bringing is the development of living labs that are improving the performance of students—most especially in their ability to access scholarships [40]. According to Davidson et al. [63], open labs are very essential in bridging the skills gaps in students, building an inquisitive skill in students and improving students’ learning experience.

The result of the bibliometric analysis shows that the digital transformation of the higher education system is leading to an improvement in the preparation of students for the workplace. Several studies have shown a correlation between higher education and workplace readiness. These include-Castañeda et al. [64] and Vandenbosch [65]. Another study shows that the adoption of the advanced technologies of the fourth industrial revolution in higher education is improving the knowledge of students in higher education and their preparedness for the workplace [66]. This is because the right theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to perform optimally in the workplace can be provided by a well-structured higher education institution. Another aspect of the impact of the digital transformation of the higher education system is that it is also having a positive impact on the technical capabilities of students. According to Rodrigues et al. [67], it has a positive impact on the social, personal, and professional future of students and their quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic made the digital transformation of the higher education system even more important. The pandemic highlighted its importance in enhancing innovation in higher education. During the pandemic, in-person studies were impossible. However, due to various technologies and innovations, this issue was overcome, and the capabilities of students (potential employees) were improved, enabling them to prepare well for the workplace [68]. However, more work is needed to ensure that education curriculums are better developed to ensure that the needs of the workplace are properly addressed [68]. The results show that digitalization of the higher education sector brings about digital change that transforms the sector. This is in line with the digital change theory that emphasizes the importance of digitalization on digital change [69].

Finally, the results of the SLR and the bibliometric analysis relating to the third research question (R₃) was examined. The results of the SLR show that the digital transformation of the education system will lead to the maturity of the concept of ‘Education 4.0’. Education 4.0 is associated with the transformative change within the education system–through the adoption of critical technologies of the fourth industrial education [70]. Furthermore, technologies such as the Bluetooth Beacon will impact the delivery of services within the higher education system [46]. Bluetooth Beacons are hardware devices used to transmit information between users and are powered by batteries [71]. This device will revolutionize the higher education system because students and their teachers will be able to exchange information seamlessly.

Datafication will lead to better decision making as a result of the advanced analysis of data [46]. Datafication is based on the premise that the activities and socialization of humans can be modeled into data and this data can be processed to make appropriate and better decisions [72]. Another technology that will change the landscape of higher education in the future is artificial intelligence and augmented reality [49,51]. Artificial intelligence involves training machines to develop the intelligent nature of humans and the ability to make decisions independent of humans. The augmented reality involves the enhancement of a view of the natural environment, via the use of technology, to improve the experience of users [72,73]. These two technologies will improve students’ experience and their performance in the future.

Conversely, the bibliometric analysis shows that the future of the digital transformation of the higher education system includes the development of Smart campuses, education 4.0, datafication, and the sustainability of the education sector. Since education 4.0 and datafication have been discussed earlier, only Smart campuses and the sustainability of the education sector will be discussed next. Smart campuses are emerging trends that combine physical infrastructure and Smart technologies together to improve decision making, services, and the sustainability of campuses [74]. According to Min-Allah & Alrashed [74], Smart campuses are the future of the digitalization of the higher education system. Concepts under the Smart campus initiative include smart classrooms, smart microgrid, attendance taking via face recognition/smart cards and an integrated visual, and thermal properties of buildings [74].

The digital transformation of the education sector is leading to the sustainability of education. This is because it is leading to higher education institutions gaining a competitive advantage [75]. Alam [76] posited that artificial intelligence is an enabling factor in the development of Smart campuses. Already, a correlation between the performance of Smart campuses and the digital transformation of higher education has been established earlier. Therefore, it can be concluded that the digital transformation of the higher education system will lead to the sustainability of the education sector. These results are in line with the connectivism theory that emphasizes the changes that digitalization brings to the education sector [8].

5. Conclusions

The main aim of this study is to consider the impact of the digital transformation of the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution on higher education, while considering the innovativeness and performance of students. The overarching research question was divided into three sub-questions to help evaluate it better. The three sub-questions include the following:

• What is the role of digital transformation in higher education?
• What is the impact of digital transformative education techniques on student innovativeness and performance?
• What is the future trajectory of digital transformation in education?

To ensure that these sub-questions are answered appropriately, a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis methodologies were used. These methodologies were adopted because of the novelty of the research area. Research on the digital transformation of the higher education system is still in its infancy. This makes this research necessary and important. For the systematic literature review, the PRISMA 2020 guidelines were adopted. This was to ensure that the process of selecting contributions was of the highest standards obtainable within the research community and to ensure that the contributions selected were relevant to the study. Conversely, for the bibliometric analysis, the software VOSViewer was used to examine the trends within the keywords of the selected contribution. Herein, the FINER framework was used to develop the keywords relating to each sub-question. The databases that were searched are SCOPUS and the Web of Science (SCIE and SSCI). In all, a total of 35 contributions were considered.

The results relating to the first research question show that the digital transformation of the higher education sector is leading to the development of sustainable curriculums. These are curriculums that buttress the main principles of sustainability in all areas of life. These curriculums ensure that the issue of sustainability takes center stage in decision making in businesses and in the society. Moreover, the results show that the digital transformation of the higher education system is ensuring that education curriculums are better tailored to the needs of students. This approach ensures that students have the right skills and knowledge to function optimally within the society and be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities. The traditional approach to curriculum development uses a one size fits all approach. However, this new approach considers the unique requirement of each student—studying in a particular field of study. This methodology ensures that higher education bridges the skills and knowledge gaps students may have. Furthermore, the digital transformation of the higher education systems is leading to the development of new innovative business models within the higher education section. This is making higher education institutions develop a competitive advantage over their peers and makes higher education institutions sustainable. Furthermore, it is making higher education institutions deliver their services both online and offline to reach more students.

The results of this study, regarding the second research question, show that the digital transformation of the higher education system leads to the enhancement of innovation and an improvement in the performance of students. This is because these advanced technologies are providing students with more tailored resources that guarantee an improvement in the delivery of education services. This ensures that knowledge is transferred seamlessly. Furthermore, digital tools such as the open lab (used by some higher institutions) are improving the performance of students. These labs bridge the skills gaps in students, build inquisitive skills in students, and improve their learning experience. In addition, they provide students with the right skills and knowledge to excel in the workplace. This is because the proper use of technology makes it possible for students to develop practical skills that would be useful in the workplace.

Finally, the results relating to the third research question show that the future of the digital transformation of the higher education sector will be the advancement of the concept of ‘Education 4.0’. This implies the use of the advanced technologies of the fourth industrial revolution within the higher education sector. In addition, the advanced use of the Bluetooth Beacon by students and faculties is the future of this innovation. This will aid the ease of transfer of technology and the openness of knowledge. The results also show that in the future, AI and AR will play a major role in reforming higher education across the globe. This is because more innovative approaches to learning will be developed. These include the development and implementation of virtual learning that improves the understanding of students and will ensure everyone has access to education regardless of where they are located (borderless education). In addition, it will lead to the development of advanced Smart campuses globally.

It is important that to enhance the performance of educational institution in the fourth industrial revolution. The digital transformative power of advanced technologies must be adopted to make education SMART. Furthermore, the adoption of these technologies will ensure that people all across the world can have access to education regardless of where they live. Finally, in the era of the knowledge economy, the adoption of the digital transformation of the education sector can guarantee open knowledge/innovation via making information accessible. This study has been able to provide empirical evidence on how education can be tailored and improved using the digital transformative power of the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution to enhance innovation in students and improve national innovation systems to drive sustainable development.

Limitation of Study and Future Clues

A limitation of this study is the paucity of contributions that have studied the digital transformation of the higher education system in countries across the world—mainly in developing and least developed countries. This makes it difficult to compare the impact of the innovation across a broad spectrum of countries. In addition, there is a paucity of quantitative studies on the subject matter. Furthermore, the negative impact of the digital transformation of education was not considered within this study. These issues make it difficult to conduct studies to check a variety of factors that may affect the relationship between the digital transformation of the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution and aspects of higher education. However, these limitations did not affect this study negatively. The results of this study are not only robust, but also bring new insight into the relationship considered. It will be important for future studies to examine the relationship between the digital transformation of the higher education system while considering a multi-country analysis to determine the various factors that come into place. Furthermore, studies that utilize quantitative analysis and consider the negative effect of digitalization on education should also be explored.