Karim Khayat: 3 Digital Transformation Trends in Education

Having studied at the American University of Beirut, Karim Khayat is Seeds Education's Chief Executive Officer. Karim Tahsin Al-Khayat has extensive experience of the publishing industry, as well as several other markets including the energy sector. 

Today, the digital revolution is touching virtually every aspect of people's lives, with 3.5 billion individuals benefiting from internet access and over 5 billion owning some form of mobile device. This unprecedented level of connectivity has changed the way people engage with each other, entertain themselves and interact with the world around them.

Digital transformation trends have had a significant impact in the education industry in particular, with teachers, tutors and lecturers of all levels embracing new technology in order to connect with their students. These changes have largely been driven by COVID-19, with pandemic-related school closures and lockdowns forcing educators to take learning online.

This article will explore three of the latest digital transformation trends and their disruptive impact on the education sector.

Improved Access

Digitisation has improved accessibility to lessons and degree programs for students of all ages. Students with impairments that hinder them from accessing certain types of information are increasingly finding that technology can go a long way towards helping them overcome these barriers. A prime example of this is text-to-speech programs and transcription programs that convert dictated content into text, helping to improve the ability of all students by enabling them to access information presented through schools.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality has had a revolutionary impact on many sectors. Although initially used for entertainment purposes, it has attracted attention for its potential in shopping and even in training sequences.

In education, virtual reality is an extremely powerful tool, providing students with the opportunity to 'experience' material they learn before moving on to real world applications. Virtual reality has particular potential in the hospitality sector, enabling students to experience potential work environments first hand and helping them to gain hands-on experience without leaving their classrooms.

Increased Implementation of EdTech

For many years now the United Arab Emirates has been in the midst of a digital revolution, with companies across the region leveraging the power of technology to future-proof their businesses while also digitally empowering consumers.

Nowhere is this more apparent than EdTech, where the United Arab Emirates is leading the charge. During the pandemic, 72% of educational institutions across the Gulf advanced their digital initiative roadmap by a minimum of one year, empowering and inspiring students by providing them with the digital solutions necessary to keep pace with an ever-changing world.