Beyond Digitalization: The Onlife Paradigm as a Systemic Transformation of Higher Education

Olga Nikitina; Ольга Гудкова

doi:10.55956/GJCU4092

Authors

O.A. Nikitina Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University, Tula, Russian Federation
О.А. Гудковам Тульский государственный педагогический университет им. Л.Н. Толстого,

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55956/GJCU4092

Keywords:

onlife paradigm, digital transformation of education, higher education, educational ecosystem, digital pedagogy, academic culture, personalized learning

Abstract

This article examines the "onlife" paradigm as a fundamental transformation in higher education, where boundaries between digital and physical realities blur. Using conceptual analysis, the study explores this shift across five dimensions: organizational, pedagogical, epistemological, social-psychological, and cultural. Findings reveal that onlife education requires transitioning from rigid university models to flexible ecosystems, redefining teachers as architects of learning environments, and reconceptualizing knowledge as a dynamic, co-constructed process. Digital technologies serve as catalysts that enhance traditional values – accessibility, quality, critical thinking – rather than being ends in themselves. Key challenges include maintaining academic depth, ensuring digital equity, and preserving education's human dimension. The conclusion emphasizes that successful implementation demands a holistic strategy harmonizing technological modernization with renewed pedagogy, teacher development, and academic culture. This positions universities as crucial nodes in global knowledge networks for lifelong learning, moving beyond simple digital tool integration to a complete educational ecosystem restructuring.

Author's detail

О.А. Гудковам, Тульский государственный педагогический университет им. Л.Н. Толстого,

Тульский государственный педагогический университет им. Л.Н. Толстого,

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Beyond Digitalization: The Onlife Paradigm as a Systemic Transformation of Higher Education