Digital Transformation in Higher Education: Toward a National Model of Digital University in Kazakhstan Through Global and Local Comparison

Today, digital transformation is a major factor that determines the renewal and strategic expansion of higher education institutions. It is not only about the use of technology in classrooms but the whole paradigm of universities organizing learning, research, and societal interaction. This study explores how universities perceive and implement digital change, what factors influence these changes, and what barriers prevent them from moving forward. This research explores both the theory and the real-world application of digital transformation in higher education with an emphasis on creating a national model of a digital university in Kazakhstan. This research adopts a qualitative design and is grounded in well-founded theory principles. A wide range of academic publications from 2020 to 2025 have been reviewed, and key studies were deeply analyzed with the help of Atlas.ti25, which facilitated the identification of recurring themes and conceptual relationships in the higher education sector. The results reveal that successful digital transformation depends on the balancing of the four interrelated factors that are articulated in this study. Among those are empathetic leadership, a trustworthy digital infrastructure, innovative teaching and learning methods, and the continuous development of employee qualifications. The universities that were able to implement digital transformation more thoroughly are usually the ones showing strategic consistency, internal collaboration, and the sustained investment in human and technological resources. However, at the same time, numerous institutions confront financial constraints, weak infrastructure, and faculty members’ varying levels of digital preparedness. To the problems mentioned above, this research offers a Digital University Model which sees the university as a changing ecosystem that merges institutional, technological, pedagogical, and cultural processes into one structure of ongoing innovation. This study continues the discussions on digital transformation in higher education in a clear and accessible manner. The authors explain how digitalization influences the development of universities and colleges, offering valuable guidance for institutional leaders and decision makers. In addition, this article presents concrete and practical recommendations that can support educational institutions in advancing their digital maturity.