Digital Transformation of Higher Education in Developing Countries in the Post-epidemic Era: Connotation, Dilemma and Path

The digital transformation of higher education is a revolutionary digital paradigm shift led by technological development, presenting multi-dimension, multi-level and multi-region development characteristics. As the leading promoter of digital transformation, higher education teachers must be equipped with relevant information communications technology (ICT) skills. During the process of digital transformation in higher education, developing countries face the shared challenges of inequitable educational resources, the rise of educational costs and teachers' lack of digital skills. Based on the practical experiences of the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI), and the case studies from UNESCO-ICHEI's partner higher education institutions, this paper provides diverse references for the digital transformation of higher education in developing countries in the post-pandemic era, including developing macro-strategies, searching for effective pathways in different stages of development and promoting the ICT capacity from all levels for higher education teachers. This paper proposes the suggestions to establish a multilateral cooperation mechanism to share qualified higher education resources; to customize personalized systems and policies to enhance the online teaching quality; to provide continuous learning programs to improve the capacity of higher education staff.