From the enablement of remote learning to the increased optimisation of back-office business-critical functions, the education sector has never faced a greater time of change, says Richard Pinker, MD of Ricoh SA. Leaders agree. Many South African leaders, political and non-political, emphasise education as a key piece to the puzzle for South Africa to become a smarter, more productive and innovative society.
Research conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), sponsored by Ricoh Europe, found that a quarter of education leaders believe that new technology could help to improve their services and enhance their student learning experience. It makes sense that prospective students - many of whom are digital natives - would be attracted to institutions that make use of the latest and most advanced technology.
Leaders have already started to place greater importance on speed and efficiency when it comes to technology, with the research showing that over half expect moderate to extreme technology disruption within their institution over the next three years. Although optimistic about the imminent future of technology, there is an underlying pressure to deliver more, often with fewer resources, while remaining an attractive place of study.
The research also found that an overwhelming 98% of education leaders feel under increased pressure to adapt to change in the next three years. It is no surprise that with the prevalence of evolving technology, new ways of learning and changing demands from incoming students, leaders are under pressure to not only change but change quickly.
Yet many education institutions find it difficult to achieve greater agility through technology. The research shows that multiple levels of bureaucracy, layers of administrators, and a fragmented vision results in institutions continuing to function without any real change to operations. These bottlenecks could impact on wider objectives such as those relating to growth and rankings, as well as restricting their potential to achieve future success, unless leaders address this immediately.
Educational institutions increasingly compete on efficiency, value for money, and the quality of student services - all of which can be enhanced through technology by optimising business critical processes. Executives have recognised the need for back office transformation to improve core functions - many of which are document and process-heavy. When asked to identify the areas where adapting to change was most crucial, their most cited responses were improving core business processes (44%), recruiting new staff (42%) and adopting new technologies (40%).
Executives clearly recognise that greater speed and efficiency are important. Technology opens up new horizons but businesses must focus on their core processes. They have to transform them into truly digital and connected operations to make education materials and essential administrative information available - in the right format and at the right time. The speed of change is an important element to ensure successful education programmes for the 21st century. The good news is that education leaders are not alone. Both government initiatives and private sector innovations are supporting executives as they strive to move forward.
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