Online education as a driver of digital transformation and economic sustainability of universities

Abstract

The article examines online education as a key driver of digital transformation in universities and a factor in strengthening their economic sustainability. It analyzes current trends in the global education services market, the impact of online learning formats on the financial stability of higher education institutions, and the specifics of integrating EdTech technologies, educational data analytics, and artificial intelligence into the structure of university management. The role of impact investing, social investment bonds, and “university-business-state” partnership ecosystems in the formation of sustainable financial models for digital universities is revealed. The main directions of online education development have been identified: micro- and macro-education, blended learning formats, corporate educational practices, and personalized learning trajectories. As a result of the study, it has been determined that the combination of technological, organizational, and financial solutions in a single digital ecosystem ensures the transition from partial digitalization to a fully digital university model, where data becomes a strategic resource and AI solutions become the core of personalization, cost optimization, and improvement of education quality. Further work should focus on developing procedures for assessing the value of digital educational assets, designing impact financing models for online programs, and refining ethical standards for the use of AI in personalized learning.