INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENT OF THE VIRTUAL SPACE OF A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION

Abstract

The relevance of the research is determined by the growing impact of digital transformation on higher education, where the creation of an effective information and communication environment within the virtual space plays a leading role. Such an environment not only provides open access to educational resources but also shapes a new culture of interaction among all participants in the educational process — students, teachers, and administrators. It contributes to the development of digital competencies, the personalization of learning, and the improvement of educational management quality. However, the current practice of implementing digital technologies in higher education institutions remains largely fragmented, which reduces their overall efficiency. The key scientific problem lies in the absence of an integrated model that would combine technological, pedagogical, and managerial aspects into a single ecosystem.

The purpose of the study is to theoretically substantiate and develop a scientific and practical approach to organizing the information and communication environment of a higher education institution’s virtual space, ensuring its comprehensiveness, systematic nature, and adaptability in response to the challenges of the digital era.

The study refines the structure of the information and communication environment as a multi-level system that includes technical, informational, communicative, organizational, and analytical subsystems. Its key functions are identified as informational, educational, managerial, communicative, and motivational. The proposed scientific and practical approach to organizing the virtual educational space is implemented through five stages: preparatory, methodological, analytical, research, and recommendation. This approach enables the effective integration of pedagogical technologies with digital tools, optimizes communication and management within the educational process, and ensures continuity of learning and the development of an innovative university culture.

As a result, a holistic model of the information and communication environment of a higher education institution has been developed, aligned with the strategic objectives of digital transformation. Its implementation contributes to improving the quality of educational services, increasing the flexibility of management processes, fostering innovative pedagogical practices, and enhancing the competitiveness of universities within the global educational space.