A Paradigmatic Analysis of Generation ‘Z’ Competences, Digitalization, and Quality Assurance Mechanism

Abstract

Gen Z is entering Pakistan Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This generation is true digital natives: from early youth, they have been exposed to the internet, social networks, and mobile systems. There is a growing understanding that higher education institutions should develop a quality assurance mechanism for the digitization of the academic processes for Gen Z keeping in view their competencies. The researchers collected data from a sample of 200 faculty and Gen Z students using cross-tabulation by using SPSS. The findings offer valuable insight: 61% of faculty and 87% of students prefer using” social media in their academic process versus traditional methods”, and 83% of faculty and 88% of students are in favor of “capacity building for digitization of academic process”. 94% of faculty and 76% of students recommend adoptable “quality assurance mechanism for digitized academic process”. Keeping in view, the quality assurance mechanism for digitization of the academic process for Gen Z, we need to train HEI faculty and Gen Z students for the adoption of digital processes. This will directly contribute to the uplift of existing quality assurance machoism in HEIs. The novelty of this study is to introduce innovations for the enhancement of student–teacher learning through digitization in Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan. The recommended process of digitization can also be improved by innovative ideas and good practices by researchers in regional and global HEIs. National and international Higher Education Institutions may take lead from this study while planning and undertaking new research initiatives for hybrid learning focusing on the digitization of the academic process for Gen Z teaching, its quality assurance mechanism, and recognition of their qualification.