Digital transformation and the evolution of university models: what does the future hold for the traditional university in the age of educational technology? : The case of Omnia Omnibus University, Kinshasa, DRC

Abstract

This study examines the digital transformation of university models through the case of Omnia Omnibus University (UOO) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It investigates how the adoption of digital technologies affects institutional governance, teaching practices, educational interactions, and the evolution of the traditional university model in a resource-constrained context. The research adopts a qualitative, exploratory case-study approach based on semi-structured interviews with 13 participants, including seven students, five teachers, and one administrative staff member. The analysis draws on 122 coded units of meaning and combines thematic analysis with descriptive and association tests. The findings reveal a significant gap between institutional ambitions and users’ experiences. While the administration expresses a largely positive perception of digital transformation, teachers and particularly students report challenges related to connectivity, equipment, training, limited educational content, and insufficient interaction through institutional platforms. Students frequently rely on external tools such as WhatsApp, Google Scholar, and generative artificial intelligence to compensate for these limitations. The results also show that digitalisation has been more effective in administrative processes than in teaching and learning practices. Despite these constraints, teachers and students recognise the potential of digital technologies to improve accessibility, flexibility, interaction, and the future development of higher education. The study concludes that the transformation of the traditional university in the Congolese context requires more than technological infrastructure; it also depends on inclusive digital governance, stakeholder training, pedagogical integration, institutional connectivity, and sustained organisational change. The case of UOO illustrates both the opportunities and the structural challenges associated with developing a more hybrid and digitally integrated university model in the DRC.

Keywords: Digital Transformation; Higher Education; University Models; Educational Technology (EdTech); Digital Governance; Pedagogical Innovation; Digitalisation; Omnia Omnibus University; Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Received Date: June 19, 2026

Accepted Date: July 10, 2026

Published Date: August 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/921