The evolution of cloud computing in education: from Hype Cycle to mainstream adoption (2012-2024)

This paper presents a longitudinal analysis of cloud computing adoption in educational contexts from 2012 to 2024, examining how these technologies have progressed through Gartner's Hype Cycle stages to become mainstream educational tools. Building upon initial research conducted in 2012, we integrate recent scholarly developments to construct a comprehensive framework for understanding cloud technology integration in education. Through systematic analysis of adoption patterns, we identify regional variations between Eastern European and Western educational institutions, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated cloud adoption trajectories. Our original contribution includes the development of an integrated Cloud Education Readiness Framework (CERF) that synthesizes elements from Technology Acceptance Model, UTAUT, and Hype Cycle perspectives. The results reveal that while cloud technologies have largely reached the plateau of productivity in Western educational contexts, Eastern European institutions demonstrate distinctive adoption patterns characterized by later adoption timelines but accelerated implementation during the pandemic period. Security, privacy concerns, and institutional readiness remain significant barriers to adoption, while the integration of AI and edge computing represents the emerging frontier. This research provides valuable insights for educational leadership, technology planners, and policy makers seeking to optimize cloud technology investments and implementation strategies in diverse educational environments.