How can digital economy enable high-quality development of higher education? Evidence from an emerging country China

Purpose As China advances toward a digital society, promoting high-quality development becomes the goal of economic development. Given that education is the foundation of people's livelihood, the research between digital economy and higher education is of vital importance. Furthermore, it is crucial to explore the intrinsic connections and interactive mechanisms between the digital economy and high-quality development of higher education. This study aims to explore the impact of the digital economy on the high-quality development of higher education and its transmission mechanism, with a view to contributing to the global educational modernization process. Design/methodology/approach Using the panel data of Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2021, this study empirically analyzes the heterogeneous impact of digital economy on the high-quality development of higher education and its transmission mechanism. Findings The results indicate that the digital economy is a significant driving force for the high-quality development of higher education, validated by endogeneity and robustness tests, with notable regional variations. The transmission mechanism reveals that the digital economy fosters high-quality development in higher education by increasing investment in educational funds, driving the development of AI in the field of education technology, and accelerating the digital transformation of education. Originality/value This study proposes that higher education in China needs to strengthen the innovation of talent training system, deepen cross-regional education cooperation, and give full play to the positive role of individuals in society, to promote the sustainable and healthy development of economic and educational undertakings.