The Effectiveness of Digital Transformation in Enhancing Institutional Performance in Higher Education Institutions

The present study aims to examine the effectiveness of digital transformation in enhancing institutional performance within higher education institutions, by exploring its role in improving the quality of educational and administrative services and strengthening decision‑making efficiency. A descriptive–analytical methodology was adopted, drawing on a wide range of relevant Arabic and international books and scholarly studies addressing digital transformation and institutional performance in higher education. The findings indicate that digital transformation constitutes a strategic pillar for advancing institutional performance, as it contributes to improving service quality, facilitating access to information, enhancing governance and transparency, and increasing responsiveness to rapid changes in the educational environment. The study further reveals that the success of digital transformation depends on several key factors, most notably: the availability of adequate digital infrastructure, the level of digital awareness and readiness among academic and administrative staff, strong leadership support, and the adoption of an organizational culture that embraces change and innovation. Conversely, higher education institutions face a number of challenges that may diminish the impact of digital transformation, including limited funding, insufficient technical competencies, resistance to change, and weak integration among digital systems. Based on these findings, the study recommends increasing investment in digital infrastructure, developing the digital competencies of human resources, formulating comprehensive digital policies and strategies, and adopting an integrated set of key performance indicators to monitor and evaluate the impact of digital transformation on institutional performance in higher education institutions.