IMPACT OF DIGITALISATION ON WORK CULTURE OF A UNIVERSITY: A CASE STUDY OF PUNJABI UNIVERSITY, PATIALA, PUNJAB (INDIA)

Abstract

Digitalisation has emerged as an essential tool for strengthening administrative functions and improving work culture in higher education institutions across the world. This research paper examines how digitalisation in Punjabi University, Patiala has made an impact on work culture by influencing transparency, accountability, participation, administrative simplicity, coordination and the overall quality of governance. This empirical study specifically analyses student-centric services such as admissions, examinations and fee payments, which represent the most active interfaces between stakeholders and administrative systems. For this purpose, primary data was collected from 450 respondents which included administrators, administrative officials and students of Punjabi University, Patiala. Select indicators were analyzed, like perceptions of transparency, accountability, corruption reduction, administrative ease and satisfaction with coordination improvements. The results significantly revealed that digitalisation has made a significant impact on the work culture in Punjabi University, Patiala as 74.3% of respondents (students and administrative officials) admitted that transparency improved, 72.6% believed administrative processes became simpler and more accessible and 66.8% agreed that digitalisation reduced corruption. Moreover, 65% (administrators and administrative officials) affirmed that digitalisation strengthened good governance. It was heartening to find that the students consistently expressed higher satisfaction compared to administrative officials, indicating that digital benefits are more visible and tangible at the front-end user level. The study concludes that while digitalisation has significantly influenced work culture in Punjabi University, Patiala in a positive way, it is suggested that in future, focus is required to strengthen system integration, enhance awareness and accessibility for students, improve staff capacity and encourage a “digital first” mindset in order to ensure that digitalisation provide benefits across all administrative levels.