DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN OPEN EDUCATION MEETING THE PEOPLE'S DEMANDS FOR LIFETIME LEARNING

Abstract

Based on the proposal for a unified understanding of fundamental concepts and a comparison with the current state of digital transformation (DT) in open education (OE) worldwide, this article reveals a substantial gap. On one side, there is a strong emphasis on ambitious goals for open education and lifelong learning, while on the other side, a national policy framework for digital transformation in open education is conspicuously absent. To formulate practical policies within a specific national context, it is crucial to fully identify various gaps, with the most critical ones being the disparities between the current state and desired objectives, digital infrastructure, digital foundations, digital capabilities, and digital divides among regions, rural and urban areas, and different population segments. Consequently, instead of a broadly distributed policy framework, which has been customary for so long, the primary focus should be on creating and effectively implementing priority policies to narrow these gaps.