Digital university as a new paradigm for organizing the scientific and educational space

Abstract

The article substantiates the concept of a digital university as a new paradigm for organizing the scientific and educational space in the context of global transformations covering economic, social, technological, and cultural spheres. The digitalization of higher education is seen as a multidimensional process that integrates the educational, scientific, innovative, and entrepreneurial activities of universities into a unified digital ecosystem. It is emphasized that the development of digital platforms, intelligent services, virtual and augmented reality technologies, robotics, cloud solutions, blockchain, teachers’ avatars, and social networks is changing traditional university business models, contributing to their sustainability and competitiveness in the global education services market.Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the phenomena of distance and hybrid learning, which have become key during the challenges of recent years and are now being integrated into the structure of the digital university as a sustainable educational format. The distance learning market has taken on the characteristics of “education without borders,” providing round-the-clock access to knowledge and contributing to the massification of higher education. At the same time, the formation of digital platforms creates new conditions for market competition, where the priority is not profit maximization, but the growth of network effects, the expansion of academic mobility, and the attraction of a wide range of applicants.The article highlights the role of internationalization, integration, and harmonization of educational systems in the development of a digital university. It emphasizes the importance of international educational alliances, cross-border forms of learning, academic mobility, and global initiatives (in particular, the Bologna Process), which ensure the creation of a unified European and global educational space. It is determined that the massification and continuity of education are becoming leading factors in the development of human capital, as they ensure the continuous updating of competencies throughout life.In addition, the development of corporate universities as an alternative form of training personnel that is actively being integrated into the global education market was analyzed. It is concluded that the digital university combines the classic values of university education with new formats of activity, integrates global trends of digitalization and internationalization, ensures the development of intangible assets and the strengthening of institutional stability, and also becomes an important factor in the formation of a knowledge economy and sustainable development of society.