STEM & Digital Transformation by DigitalEd India
                     STEM & Digital Transformation
in Indian Higher Education
2025 Report 
Table of Contents
1. The Next Chapter for India’s Digitally Driven Higher Education 
2. The Overlooked Gap: Shared Devices, Missed Lessons 
3. One Faculty, Many Roles: The Hidden Load of Higher Education 
4. Beyond the Final Exam: The Case for Smarter Assessment 
5. Foundational Math Gaps — A Persistent Barrier to STEM Success 
6. AI in Indian Education — Between Curiosity and Caution 
7. Looking Ahead — From Digital Readiness to Digital Maturity 
The Next Chapter
for India’s Digitally
Driven Higher
Education 
India’s higher education landscape is evolving—but slowly. While many institutions have 
adopted digital tools, deeper systemic challenges continue to limit real transformation. 
From faculty overload and limited access to devices, to foundational math gaps and 
exam-centric evaluation models—these aren’t just operational issues; they’re structural 
barriers that hinder scale, quality, and equity. 
Limited privacy and 01 05 Outdated or faulty 
personal space AV equipment 
Rigid and inflexible 02 06 No seating access 
classroom layout Challenges of for wheelchair users 
Traditional 
Crowded classrooms Learning Spaces 03 07 Poor seating layout 
reduce engagement affects learning
Poor acoustics and 04 08 Teacher remains 
harsh lighting the central focus 
Image source: 2025 Higher Ed Trends Report by DigitalEd
This e-book highlights five pressing with a deep understanding of institutional 
challenges that impact the success of digital capacity, curriculum demands, and learner 
initiatives: device access, faculty workload, diversity. The goal isn’t just to digitize — but 
assessment culture, foundational math to design better systems for teaching, 
gaps, and emerging questions around AI. learning, and evaluation. 
Each is rooted in the day-to-day experience 
of Indian educators and students. As we navigate this shift, the focus must 
remain on practical solutions, scalable 
Technology can support meaningful change innovation, and smarter integration — built 
— but only when it’s implemented for India’s classrooms, not around them. 
The Overlooked Gap:
Shared Devices, Missed
Lessons 
In India, the digital divide runs deeper than 
connectivity—it begins with device availability. Many 
students share a single smartphone at home, often 
missing lessons or deadlines due to limited access.
Mobile-First Design is No Longer Optional 
While 84% of educators globally report using digital platforms in their teaching, India’s 
digital transformation depends on mobile-first tools.  Platforms must be responsive, 
lightweight, and functional on low-end phones with limited data. 
Challenges to Device Access What Institutions Can Do
• Shared devices reduce access time, • Use platforms built for 
especially in multi-child households. mobile-first learning and low 
• Parents limit screen time, fearing bandwidth. 
distractions or overuse. • Enable offline or asynchronous 
• Even urban families face access wherever possible. 
affordability gaps, not just rural • Explore device support or subsidy 
areas. programs for students in need. 
Until every learner has a reliable 
way to log in, digital education 
cannot be truly inclusive. 
One Faculty, Many Roles: The
Hidden Load of Higher Education 
Faculty are key to digital transformation, yet they’re already stretched 
thin in India. With large classes, minimal support, and multiple roles, most 
manage teaching, grading, and admin entirely on their own. 
While educators globally feel the strain, the lack of teaching assistants 
and technical help in Indian institutions makes adopting new platforms 
feel out of reach. 
Why Platform Adoption Faces Resistance
• Time is limited: Every platform requires training, faculty can't spare the time.
• Lack of support: Most institutions offer no dedicated help for tech adoption. 
• Tool overload: Managing several platforms alone quickly becomes unsustainable.
A Better Approach for Institutions 
• Keep it simple: Choose tools that are intuitive and easy to adopt.
• Support onboarding: Provide workshops, peer demos, and ongoing guidance. 
• Think scale, not complexity: Use platforms that reduce effort in large-class teaching.
Faculty are the backbone of education.
If we expect them to drive digital adoption, we must first ensure the technology works 
with them, not against them. 
Beyond the Final Exam: The Case for
Smarter Assessment 
Final exams continue to dominate Indian higher education, leaving little room for ongoing 
feedback or flexible assessments. This limits student engagement and stifles innovation. 
Globally, 35% of educators use tests, 30% rely on projects, and 21% assess participation. In 
India, high-stakes exams remain the primary benchmark, challenging digital tools to 
support more dynamic, student-focused learning.
How Course Material Retention is Assessed 35%
Observations of student application of knowledge 30%
21%
Class participation and discussions 15%
Assignments and projects
Exams and quizzes
Data source: 2025 Higher Ed Trends Report by DigitalEd
Why the Current Model Is Limiting 
• Limited feedback: Without checkpoints, students can’t monitor or adjust their progress. 
• MCQ-style tests dominate: Timed quizzes limit deeper thinking and insight.
• Rigid exam norms: Faculty avoid formats that don’t fit official requirements.
Toward a Smarter Assessment Culture with Möbius 
• Comprehensive support: Run both major exams and low-stakes learning checks.
• STEM-ready design: Handle complex math, algorithms, and multi-step problems.
• Real-time feedback: Guide learning with instant, in-line responses.
• Smarter authoring tools: Use templates and data to build richer assessments.
Rethinking assessment is not about replacing exams—it’s about 
complementing them with smarter, more human-centred learning checks.
Foundational Math Gaps — A Persistent
Barrier to STEM Success 
Math continues to be one of the biggest hurdles for Indian students entering STEM disciplines. 
These gaps are not isolated—they’re systemic and deeply affect student progress. 
The 2025 Higher Ed Trends Report found 80% of educators observed learning gaps, with Math 
as the leading concern. Among Math faculty, 47% reported major gaps in first-year students.
"Maths accessibility is still not good—interacting with equations and 
formulas digitally is not satisfactory." 
 — Educator, Higher Ed Trends Report 
Why India Faces an Even Steeper Slope 
• No structured remediation: Few institutions offer early support or bridge courses.
• Exam pressure + weak basics: Rote learning limits true conceptual grasp.
• Limited math tool support: Most platforms lack interactive, step-based features.
Where Foundational Gaps Were Observed 
22% Mathematics
20% Study skills / learning strategies
19% Critical thinking
14% Writing
10% Reading comprehension
08% Information literacy
08% Digital literacy 
Data source: 2025 Higher Ed Trends Report by DigitalEd
Rebuilding the Foundation 
• Run early diagnostics to identify gaps before coursework begins. 
• Use step-based tools to simplify abstract math through ivisualization. 
• Provide real-time feedback to guide learning through each step. 
• Adopt platforms like Möbius for symbolic, visual, active learning. 
Möbius helps close foundational math gaps by offering a structured, visual, 
and feedback-rich environment—essential infrastructure for STEM success. 
AI in Indian Education — Between
Curiosity and Caution 
Artificial Intelligence is rising globally in education, but adoption in India remains limited. 
Faculty are curious yet cautious, unsure how to use AI meaningfully and ethically.  
The 2025 Higher Ed Trends Report notes that educators see potential in AI for 
personalization, grading, and identifying at-risk students—but concerns over misuse, 
inaccuracy, and fairness persist. 
“We need to be preparing students to use technology, including AI... moving 
away from tests of knowledge to tests of skill and thinking.”
 — Educator, Higher Ed Trends Report 
What’s Holding AI Back in Indian Classrooms 
• Rising interest, limited exposure: Faculty lack structured training or policy guidance. 
• Low trust in grading tools: Concerns persist in high-stakes assessments. 
• Misuse by students: AI use in assignments raises plagiarism concerns. 
Where AI Fits in Indian STEM Education 
Identify struggling Assist faculty with 
learners early through feedback, saving time 
learning pattern analysis. for deeper instruction. 
Create question Automate grading in 
variations for large-scale, math-heavy subjects 
personalized assessment. with stepwise logic. 
Platforms like Möbius are beginning to embed these features—not as a 
replacement for instruction, but as a partner in scaling quality without 
diluting it. 
Looking Ahead — From Digital Readiness
to Digital Maturity  
India’s higher education future depends not just on adopting technology, but on using it 
intentionally. For real change, tools must support pedagogy, scale effectively, and meet the 
needs of students and educators—especially in STEM.
These challenges are interconnected and need thoughtful, academic solutions—not just 
broader access to technology. STEM education demands tools that can handle its rigor, 
scale, and instructional complexity.
Overall Results for Integrating Digital Into Curricula 
24% Increased flexibility 19% Access to a wider 17% Enhanced 
and accessibility range of learning opportunities for 
for students  resources personalized learning
16% Improved student 13% Opportunities for 11% Facilitated 
engagement and data-driven instruction collaboration and 
motivation and assessment communication
Data source: 2025 Higher Ed Trends Report by DigitalEd
 Möbius: Designed for the Demands of Modern STEM 
• Math-first engine: Auto-grades complex, math-based questions with accuracy. 
• Interactive tools: Support symbolic input, visuals, and active problem-solving. 
• Adaptive learning: Personalizes content and delivers real-time feedback. 
• Flexible modes: Fit both guided teaching and self-paced learning. 
India’s digital education future is 
taking shape - Möbius is ready to 
drive it forward.
Book a personalized demo to see how Möbius 
tackles real STEM challenges with purpose-built 
solutions for Indian institutions. 
Let’s Connect!
Want to learn more about Möbius and our other solutions?
0124-411-3434 +91 8130-500-024
www.digitaled.in [email protected]