Digital Culture in Higher Education: A Theoretical Overview and an Analytical Research Framework
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study reviews theoretical approaches to digital culture in higher education and to propose an analytical framework to support future empirical research. Drawing on a comprehensive synthesis of both international and context-specific studies related to digital culture, digital competence, digital behavior, and digital transformation in higher education, the study adopts a systematic literature review approach guided by PRISMA principles. The literature selection process involves database searching, screening, eligibility assessment, and inclusion of relevant sources based on clearly defined criteria. Subsequently, content analysis and thematic synthesis systematize conceptual approaches, identify key theoretical foundations, and examine emerging research trends. The findings indicate that digital culture can be conceptualized as a multidimensional construct encompassing values, norms, practices, and digital interaction environments, while influenced by both individual and institutional factors within higher education contexts. Thereby, the study proposes an integrated analytical framework consisting of digital awareness, digital competence, digital behavior, digital ethics, and organizational and environmental factors. This study contributes to clarifying the theoretical foundation of digital culture in higher education and provides a structured basis for the development and empirical validation of research models in future studies.
Keywords
Digital transformation, higher education, analytical framework, digital competence, digital culture
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
References
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Deep, G. (2023). Digital transformation’s impact on organizational culture. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 10(2), 977-983. https://doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2023.10.2.0977
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Levin, I., & Mamlok, D. (2021). Culture and society in the digital age. Information, 12(2), 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/info12020068
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Nadkarni, S., & Prügl, R. (2020). Digital transformation: A review, synthesis, and opportunities for future research. Management Review Quarterly, 71(2), 233-341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-020-00185-7
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Nguyen, T. T. (2024). Developing digital culture to promote successful digital transformation in higher education. Journal of Educational Management, 16(9), 22-28.
Nguyen, T. N. X. (2024). Influence of quality culture on digital transformation: A case study of Tra Vinh University. Ho Chi Minh City University of Education Journal of Science, 21(3), 562–572. https://doi.org/10.54607/hcmue.js.21.3.4148(2024)
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Robles-Carrillo, M. (2024). Digital identity: An approach to its nature, concept, and functionalities. International Journal of Law and Information Technology, 32, eaae019. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijlit/eaae019
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Verhoef, P. C., Broekhuizen, T., Bart, Y., Bhattacharya, A., Dong, J. Q., Fabian, N., & Haenlein, M. (2021). Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda. Journal of Management Studies, 58(4), 889-901. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12639
Vial, G. (2023). Best practices for digital transformation based on a systematic literature review. Digital Transformation and Society, 2(1), 55-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/DTS-11-2022-0057
Vuorikari, R., Kluzer, S., & Punie, Y. (2022). DigComp 2.2: The digital competence framework for citizens. European Commission.
Vu, T. H. T. (2025). Digital competence of university students in Dong Nai in the context of a digital learning society: Current status and policy implications. Journal of Science Hanoi Open University, (7A), Article 831. https://doi.org/10.59266/houjs.2025.831
Vu, T. T. L. (2025). Digital transformation in Vietnamese education: Current status and solutions. Vietnam Integration Electronic Science Journal, (339). https://doi.org/10.62829/VNHN.339.51.54
Williamson, B., & Hogan, A. (2020). Commercialisation and privatisation in/of education in the context of COVID-19. Education International. https://www.ei-ie.org/
Zhao, Y., Pinto Llorente, A. M., & Sánchez Gómez, M. C. (2021). Digital competence in higher education research: A systematic literature review. Computers & Education, 168, 104212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2021.104212
Bollmer, G. (2018). Theorizing digital cultures. SAGE.
Bond, M., Bedenlier, S., Marín, V. I., & Händel, M. (2020a). Emergency remote teaching in higher education: Mapping the first global online semester. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 17(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-020-00201-0
Bond, M., Buntins, K., Bedenlier, S., Zawacki-Richter, O., & Kerres, M. (2020b). Mapping research in student engagement and educational technology in higher education: A systematic evidence map. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 17, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0176-8
Bui, B. K. (2022). Digital transformation in higher education: A case study of Hai Phong University. Hai Phong University Journal of Science, (51), 3-10.
Capogna, S., Cocciolo, A., De Angelis, F., & Pagano, A. (2020). Digital culture for educational organizations: Guidelines for teachers and education agencies. Eurilink University Press.
Cardoso, A., Meireles, A., & Peralta, C. F. (2021). Digital culture, knowledge, and commitment to digital transformation and its impact on the competitiveness of Portuguese organizations. Administrative Sciences, 11(4).
Castells, M. (2010). The rise of the network society (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Castro Benavides, L. M., Tamayo Arias, J. A., Arango Serna, M. D., Branch Bedoya, J. W., & Burgos, D. (2020). Digital transformation in higher education institutions: A systematic literature review. Sensors, 20(11), 3291. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20113291
Deep, G. (2023). Digital transformation’s impact on organizational culture. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 10(2), 977-983. https://doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2023.10.2.0977
Dimmock, C. (2005). Educational leadership: Culture and diversity. SAGE.
Duong, T. T., Ha, T. Q., & Pham, T. T. L. (2021). Digital transformation in higher education: An integrative review approach. TNU Journal of Science and Technology, 226(9), 139-146. https://doi.org/10.34238/tnu-jst.4366
Do, V. H. (Ed.). (2021). Digital competence framework for students (DigiLit 1.0). VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Do, V. H. (Ed.). (2022). Digital competence 2022: Digital competence framework for students. Vietnam National University Press.
El Din, P. S. (2025). The role of digital organizational culture in organizational development. Arab Journal of Administration, 45(4). https://doi.org/10.21608/AJA.2023.173954.1353
Erstad, O. (2015). Educating the digital generation. Nordic Journal of Digital Literacy, 5(1), 56-71.
Ferrari, A. (2012). DIGCOMP: A framework for developing and understanding digital competence in Europe. Publications Office of the European Union.
Government. (2020). Decision No. 749/QĐ-TTg dated June 3, 2020 approving the National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with orientation to 2030.
Gudmundsdottir, G. B., & Hatlevik, O. E. (2018). Newly qualified teachers’ professional digital competence: Implications for teacher education. European Journal of Teacher Education, 41(2), 214-231.
Hague, C., & Payton, S. (2010). Digital literacy across the curriculum. Futurelab.
Haleem, A., Javaid, M., Qadri, M. A., & Suman, R. (2022). Understanding the role of digital technologies in education: A review. Sustainable Operations and Computers, 3, 275-285.
Hemerling, J., Kilmann, J., Danoesastro, M., Stutts, L., & Ahern, C. (2018). It’s not a digital transformation without a digital culture. Boston Consulting Group.
Ho, T. B., Nguyen, H. D., & Nguyen, N. Q. (2020). Q&A on digital transformation. Information and Communications Publishing House.
IEEE Standards Association. (2020). IEEE 3527.1™ standard for digital intelligence (DQ): Framework and reference architecture for digital literacy, skills, and readiness. IEEE. https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/3527.1/7039/
Ilomäki, L., Paavola, S., Lakkala, M., & Kantosalo, A. (2016). Digital competence - An emergent boundary concept for policy and educational research. Education and Information Technologies, 21(3), 655-679.
Instefjord, E., & Munthe, E. (2016). Preparing pre-service teachers to integrate technology. European Journal of Teacher Education, 39(1), 77-93.
International Commission on the Futures of Education. (2021). Reimagining our futures together: A new social contract for education. UNESCO.
Jenkins, H., Clinton, K., Purushotma, R., Robison, A. J., & Weigel, M. (2009). Confronting the challenges of participatory culture. MIT Press.
JISC. (2019). Building digital capability: The six elements defined. JISC
JISC. (2022). Developing digital capabilities for staff and students. JISC
Knox, J. (2019). What does the ‘postdigital’ mean for education? Postdigital Science and Education, 1(2), 357-370. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42438-019-00045-y
Krumsvik, R. J. (2014). Teacher educators’ digital competence. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 58(3), 269-280.
Levin, I., & Mamlok, D. (2021). Culture and society in the digital age. Information, 12(2), 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/info12020068
Miao, F., Shiohira, K., & Lao, N. (2024). AI competency framework for students. UNESCO.
Millard, J. (2023). Impact of digital transformation on public governance. European Commission, Joint Research Centre.
Nadkarni, S., & Prügl, R. (2020). Digital transformation: A review, synthesis, and opportunities for future research. Management Review Quarterly, 71(2), 233-341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-020-00185-7
Nguyen, T. H. (2024). Digital transformation in higher education: Challenges. Vietnam Journal of Educational Sciences, 20(6), 1-7.
Nguyen, T. T. (2024). Developing digital culture to promote successful digital transformation in higher education. Journal of Educational Management, 16(9), 22-28.
Nguyen, T. N. X. (2024). Influence of quality culture on digital transformation: A case study of Tra Vinh University. Ho Chi Minh City University of Education Journal of Science, 21(3), 562–572. https://doi.org/10.54607/hcmue.js.21.3.4148(2024)
OECD. (2020). Education in the digital age: Healthy and happy children. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/1209166a-en
OECD. (2023). Shaping digital education: Enabling factors for quality, equity and efficiency. OECD Publishing.
Ottestad, G., Kelentrić, M., & Guðmundsdóttir, G. B. (2014). Professional digital competence in teacher education. Nordic Journal of Digital Literacy, 9(4), 243-249.
Pangrazio, L., & Sefton-Green, J. (2021). Digital rights, digital citizenship, and digital literacy: What’s the difference? Learning, Media and Technology, 46(2), 167–172. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2021.1883416
Pelletier, K., Brown, M., Brooks, D. C., McCormack, M., Reeves, J., Arbino, N., Bozkurt, A., Crawford, S., Czerniewicz, L., Gibson, R., Linder, K., Mason, J., & Mondelli, V. (2024). 2024 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Teaching and learning edition. EDUCAUSE. https://www.educause.edu/horizon-report-teaching-and-learning-2024
Politburo. (2019). Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW dated September 27, 2019 on a number of guidelines and policies for proactively participating in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Prime Minister. (2022a). Decision No. 411/QĐ-TTg dated March 31, 2022 approving the National Strategy for Digital Economy and Digital Society Development to 2025, with orientation to 2030.
Prime Minister. (2022b). Decision No. 131/QĐ-TTg dated January 25, 2022 approving the Digital Transformation Program in Education to 2025, with orientation to 2030.
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know (3rd ed.). International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
Robles-Carrillo, M. (2024). Digital identity: An approach to its nature, concept, and functionalities. International Journal of Law and Information Technology, 32, eaae019. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijlit/eaae019
Schein, E. H. (2004). Organizational culture and leadership. Jossey-Bass.
Selwyn, N. (2016). Education and technology: Key issues and debates. Bloomsbury Academic.
Selwyn, N. (2020). Digital education in the aftermath of COVID-19: Critical concerns and hopes. Learning, Media and Technology, 45(4), 1-16.
Song, Y., Lv, S., Wang, M., Wang, Z., & Dong, W. (2025). The impact of digital learning competence on undergraduate students’ academic achievement. Behavioral Sciences, 15(7), 840. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15070840
Timotheou, S., Miliou, O., Dimitriadis, Y., Villagrá Sobrino, S., Giannoutsou, N., Cachia, R., Martínez Monés, A., & Ioannou, A. (2023). Impacts of digital technologies on education and factors influencing schools’ digital capacity and transformation: A literature review. Education and Information Technologies, 28, 6695-6726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11507-3
Tran, N. H. (2023). Developing digital culture for students in the context of digital transformation in Vietnam. Hong Bang International University Journal of Science, (25), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.59294/HIUJS.25.2023.511
Tran, T. H., Do, H. H., & Duong, T. X. D. (2025). Developing digital competence and lifelong learning among hospitality management students: An experiential approach in the digital transformation era. Journal of Science Hanoi Open University, (7A), Article 825. https://doi.org/10.59266/houjs.2025.825
Truong, T. D., & Tran, Q. G. (2026). Assessing digital transformation readiness of the higher education workforce: Comparative empirical evidence between lecturers and administrators in Vietnam. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 8(9), 2026574. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2026574
UNESCO. (2023). Guidance for generative AI in education and research. UNESCO.
Valtysson, B. (2020). Digital cultural politics: From policy to practice. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43665-2
Valtysson, B. (2022). Digital cultural politics: From policy to practice. Routledge.
Verhoef, P. C., Broekhuizen, T., Bart, Y., Bhattacharya, A., Dong, J. Q., Fabian, N., & Haenlein, M. (2021). Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda. Journal of Management Studies, 58(4), 889-901. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12639
Vial, G. (2023). Best practices for digital transformation based on a systematic literature review. Digital Transformation and Society, 2(1), 55-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/DTS-11-2022-0057
Vuorikari, R., Kluzer, S., & Punie, Y. (2022). DigComp 2.2: The digital competence framework for citizens. European Commission.
Vu, T. H. T. (2025). Digital competence of university students in Dong Nai in the context of a digital learning society: Current status and policy implications. Journal of Science Hanoi Open University, (7A), Article 831. https://doi.org/10.59266/houjs.2025.831
Vu, T. T. L. (2025). Digital transformation in Vietnamese education: Current status and solutions. Vietnam Integration Electronic Science Journal, (339). https://doi.org/10.62829/VNHN.339.51.54
Williamson, B., & Hogan, A. (2020). Commercialisation and privatisation in/of education in the context of COVID-19. Education International. https://www.ei-ie.org/
Zhao, Y., Pinto Llorente, A. M., & Sánchez Gómez, M. C. (2021). Digital competence in higher education research: A systematic literature review. Computers & Education, 168, 104212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2021.104212