At the UCISA Leadership Summit, I was asked during a panel discussion how I think digital transformation in universities will change over the next five years.

My answer was simple, but I think it is an important one.

Universities need to move away from transformation by project, and towards continuous improvement as business as usual.

For a long time, digital change in higher education has followed a familiar pattern. A priority is identified. A project is created. A team is formed. The work is delivered. The project closes. Then, when the next priority appears, the cycle starts again.

That approach can work for certain projects. But as the main model for digital transformation, it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.

It creates overhead and it slows decision-making. It can make change feel episodic rather than continuous. And, in many cases, it is too rigid for the pace and complexity of change universities now face.

The challenge is that many of the digital improvements institutions need are not one-off events. They depend on systems, data, and people improving together over time.

Student experience, reporting confidence, integration, automation and operational efficiency all need ongoing attention and the ability to adapt as circumstances change.

That means change cannot be treated as something that only happens when a major programme is launched, it needs to become part of how the institution operates.

In many digital organisations, this is already the norm. Capability is improved incrementally and regularly. Teams are set up to learn, adapt and enhance services continuously. Improvement is not held back until a large-scale transformation programme is approved.

I think higher education has an opportunity to move further in that direction.

This does not mean universities should stop running major programmes. Some changes will always require a significant investment, dedicated governance and structured delivery. But the institutions that make the most progress over the next five years are likely to be those that combine strategic transformation with a stronger culture of continuous improvement.

That means building the capability to identify issues earlier, make smaller improvements more often and keep improving systems and services after the project has officially ended. It also means changing how success is measured. The question should not only be, “Was the project delivered?” It should also be, “Has the university built the capability to keep improving after the project team has gone?”

For me, that is where the real shift needs to happen.

The universities that thrive will be those that stop seeing digital transformation as a series of isolated projects, and start treating it as a core organisational capability.

Ready to build continuous improvement into your institution?

Contact PACT today to find a solution for you.

Aaron Tyler
Co-Founder & Director
PACT Solutions