FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Digital transformation contributes to the creation of a modern educational ecosystem focused on training specialists capable of operating effectively in a digital environment. The article presents a comprehensive study of the process of formation and development of digital transformation in higher education institutions. The author identifies and characterizes four main stages of digitalization of the educational process. The proposed periodization allows tracing the evolution of digital changes in higher education, from the initial use of computing technology to the implementation of modern intelligent digital technologies and advanced educational platforms. The article analyzes contemporary scientific approaches to defining the concept of “digital transformation,” its stages, goals, and implementation features within the higher education system. Special attention is given to the technological factors of digitalization, which significantly influence the restructuring of the content, forms, and methods of learning, as well as the management of educational institutions. The impact of digital technologies on ensuring accessibility, continuity, and individualization of the learning process – key components of the modern concept of lifelong learning – is revealed. Some challenges accompanying digital transformation in higher education are identified, including digital inequality between regions, disparities in the technical equipment of institutions, ambiguous perceptions of digitalization by administrators and educators, and the urgent need to enhance the digital competence of all participants in the educational process. The article outlines prospects for further research on updating methodological approaches for training specialists in a digital environment, developing effective models of digital competence for teachers and students, and improving state educational policy regarding the digitalization of higher education in Ukraine. The importance of continued analysis of the social, technological, and pedagogical aspects of digital transformation is highlighted.