Entering An Age of Institutional Resiliency

Betsy Reinitz, Director of the CIO and Senior Technology Leader Program for EDUCAUSE, discusses the concept of institutional resilience in higher education and its connection to digital transformation and data-informed culture.

Topics include:

What is Institutional Resilience: The conversation revolves around the concept of “institutional resilience” in higher education, which refers to an institution’s ability to anticipate, respond to, and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances while maximizing opportunities and minimizing the impacts of unforeseen events. This concept emerged as a response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for higher education institutions to adapt quickly to remote learning and other changes.

Characteristics of Institutional Resilience: The conversation highlights several key characteristics that contribute to institutional resilience. These include being trustworthy, prepared, adaptive, interdependent, decisive, and data fluent. These attributes enable institutions to not only survive challenging times but also thrive and make the most of opportunities presented by change.

The Role of Data and Analytics: The transcript emphasizes the importance of a data-informed culture within higher education institutions. Data integration, collaboration, and the use of data to inform decision-making are essential components of both institutional resilience and digital transformation. The conversation underscores that institutions need to prioritize data governance and make data-driven decisions to navigate the evolving landscape of higher education effectively.