Towards an inclusive and equitable future: transformation of digital learning design in the digital era

Purpose This study aims to investigate emerging technologies and their impact on establishing a digital campus in academic institutions. It seeks to understand the barriers and opportunities associated with digitalization in education and propose an inclusive digital learning framework for academicians. Design/methodology/approach Online-focused group discussions (O-FGDs) were conducted with education experts to gain insights into the phenomena of digital learning. The discussions explored the potential barriers to digitalization and strategies for successful implementation. Additionally, Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Situation analysis was performed to select the most significant factors among those reported by the respondents. Findings The study revealed that digitalization is a crucial factor in the establishment of a digital campus. However, cultural diversity and multilingualism were identified as having the lowest relative closeness. The O-FGDs highlighted the need for inclusive digital learning frameworks that consider the impacting factors to ensure equitable implementation of digital strategies. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive understanding of emerging technologies and their implications for academic institutions. It offers a practical framework for implementing inclusive digital strategies that address the challenges and opportunities associated with digitalization in education.