By Czarina M. Agustin

As digital transformation becomes increasingly essential in the 21st century, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) showed a strong level of digital readiness based on the World Bank Digital Readiness Report.

Obtaining an overall score of 32.5 out of 35, MMSU stands above the average rating of 27.8 for Philippine Higher Education Institutions (HEI). 

Covering five pillars on digital readiness, MMSU got ‘excellent’ ratings in innovation and processes while scoring a ‘very good’ rating in human capital, culture, and strategy.

Based on the report, MMSU presented strongly defined data and analytics strategies in its institutional decision making as well as efficient process implementation, receiving a 7.0 rating both in innovation and process against the national average rating of 5.4 and 5.7, respectively. 

Compared to the 5.5 average rating in human capital, MMSU indicated an adequate workforce in attaining digital transformation with its 6.5 rating. For culture, the university scored 6.0 while the average rating sits at 5.8 which means that the university has continuously reinvented its culture towards digitalization and digitization. Moreover, with a 5.0 mark against the 5.6 average in strategies, MMSU commits to further define and develop plans and projects to realize its vision for a successful digital economy.

MMSU President Shirley Agrupis said the assessment reflects the aggressive pursuit of the university to realize digital transformation, “a step closer to becoming a university of the future.”

“We geared up extensively to be digitally ready from our workforce skills to operational capabilities to overall institutional culture; we are committed to scale up significant digital projects with aggressive staffing and funding,” Dr. Agrupis explained.

With adaptability as the key to maintaining and gaining competitive advantage, MMSU has actively adapted measures towards digital transformation such as establishing the Center for Flexible Learning, improvement of the MMSU virtual learning environment (mVLE), conduct of distance and online learnings, digitized system of records, electronic learning materials, among others.

Moving forward, the university's Information Technology Center committed university to stay abreast of emerging technologies and applications for academic and administrative functions.

The digital readiness report is a multidimensional indicator based on the World Bank’s Digital Readiness Survey, which assesses the readiness level of an institution or higher education institution to embark on the journey of transforming itself digitally. 

This will be further used to produce a country report that will provide an aggregated ranking and rating of digital readiness and maturity among HEIs for the Commission on Higher Education. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)