Keywords
Abstract
Digital transformation has become a strategic imperative in higher education governance worldwide. Yet in many public university systems, technological adoption proceeds faster than institutional adaptation. This study critically examines the impact of Management Information Systems (MIS) and administrative e-services on efficiency and transparency in Sri Lankan government universities. Drawing on a mixed-methods study across four public universities (N = 312 survey respondents; 24 key informant interviews), the research integrates institutional theory and socio-technical systems theory to assess whether digitalization constitutes genuine administrative transformation or symbolic modernization.
Findings indicate measurable improvements in transactional efficiency—particularly in student registration, examination processing, and payroll management. However, gains in transparency remain uneven and structurally constrained. Digital systems often coexist with manual processes, discretionary administrative practices, and hierarchical decision cultures that limit accountability gains. Resistance, fragmented governance, inadequate interoperability, and limited data literacy among staff further impede transformation.
The study argues that digital transformation in public universities cannot be understood as a purely technological shift. Rather, it represents a negotiated institutional process shaped by path dependency, bureaucratic norms, and power relations. The paper contributes to higher education governance literature by demonstrating how digital reforms in developing-country university systems often produce hybrid administrative models—partially modernized yet structurally constrained. Policy recommendations emphasize governance reform, process reengineering, and institutional capacity development as prerequisites for meaningful transparency gains.