Abstract
Strategic drivers are the most powerful agents of change not only altering industries,
but also the strategic landscape of South African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
Within this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world, technology and
collaboration and its interrelatedness seems most profound for HEIs. Therefore, exploring
the impact of technology and collaboration as strategic drivers would allow South African
HEIs to serve its socio-economic purpose more effectively. In support of this aim, an
interpretive paradigm, employing qualitative methods, was pursued. A qualitative survey
design was utilised whereby semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 research
participants occupying senior management positions at seven public and one private South
African HEI. Data were analysed in applying conventional content analysis with the
assistance of Atlas ti. The results confirmed technology and collaboration as strategic
drivers and to be critical for South African HEIs. Especially the importance technology was
emphasised by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, while technology also
render collaboration more accessible for HEIs. To this end, South African HEIs have to
rethink strategy post COVID-19 in using technology to enhance technology integrated
teaching and learning practices within the realm of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).
Furthermore, to also collaborate nationally and internationally to ultimately develop the
higher education sector.