Development of advanced digital ecosystems at universities: A study comparing experiences from Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia

Abstract

During the war, a significant number of Ukrainian universities were tragically destroyed, while others were relocated. The challenging wartime circumstances in which universities operate in Ukraine have increased the use of distance education. University management and academic staff agree that the quality of services offered hinges on the establishment of comprehensive open electronic student campuses. These online campuses will deliver educational content, but also innovative pedagogical technologies for fostering competency development. This can be used for competency development in the use of gamification techniques, promoting entrepreneurship and start‐ups, implementing project methodologies, leveraging research and cognitive technologies, as well as using digital tools for communication and collaboration, and employing formative assessment strategies. The objective of the study on which this article reports was to determine the university ecosystem model most amenable for providing high quality digital education. We describe and analyse current digital education ecosystem models and examine their implementation at three universities: (1) Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University (BGKU), Ukraine; (2) University of Silesia (US), Poland; and (3) Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra (UKF), Slovakia. Both strengths and limitations of online campuses are outlined. Our analysis supports the development of key performance indicators to assess the development of university digital education ecosystems and establish the necessary and sufficient conditions for implementation. Insights gained from organising education in remote learning conditions in wartime Ukraine are valuable also for educators in other countries.