EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION AND DIGITALISATION DURING CRISIS – A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digitalization in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), transforming teaching and learning and aligning with evolving labor market demands (Vincent et al., 2023). This study investigates the impact of socio-economic factors on HEI digital transformation in Bengaluru, exploring innovations, enabling factors, and challenges. Data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using statistical methods. Findings reveal that demographic characteristics influence digital transformation adoption, with innovations like mobile learning, AI, and project-based learning emerging. Connectivity, technology infrastructure, and crisis management are identified as key factors, while infrastructural limitations, budget constraints, and teacher training pose challenges. This research is limited to Yelahanka sub-district and requires further investigation due to the small sample size.