Readiness of higher education institutions for big data

The aim of this study is to emphasize the importance of using big data and analytical systems in Turkish higher education and to determine the level of readiness of universities for this technology. Big data refers to large and complex datasets that surpass the limits of conventional database systems in terms of volume, variety, and velocity. Big data analytics, on the other hand, describes the process of obtaining meaningful insights from these data and presenting significant patterns to managers. The study investigates how higher education administrators can enhance their decision-making processes by utilizing big data technologies and how these technologies can add positive value to their institutions. Big data technologies enable universities to extract meaningful information from massive data sets and integrate this information into institutional strategies. Consequently, managers can make more informed decisions, gaining a competitive advantage. Higher education institutions can improve their research processes, expand the services they offer to students, and optimize their educational processes. In the research methodology, the readiness levels of higher education institutions in Turkey for big data were evaluated through factors such as leadership, talent management, software technology, data-driven decision-making, and data-driven institutional culture. For content validity, interviews were conducted with IT experts and academics. The survey was applied to IT employees of 129 public universities, 74 foundation universities, and 4 foundation vocational colleges, resulting in data collected from 164 participants. The findings indicate that digital transformation and a data-driven institutional culture significantly impact big data readiness. Additionally, universities with higher levels of digitalization were found to possess more advanced big data readiness. In conclusion, big data analytics enhances the ability of higher education institutions to provide better services to students. However, successful implementation of these technologies requires the establishment of appropriate software infrastructure, institutional culture, and capabilities.