The Impact of Digital Transformation of Education on the Quality of Talent Training in Colleges and Universities: A Case Study of the Statistical Test of Mediating Effect and Moderating Effect

Abstract

To demonstrate the intrinsic mechanism linking educational digital transformation with higher education quality, this study investigates 1,200 teachers and students from four universities in City A. We construct a mediation effect model examining “digital transformation → pedagogical innovation → learning experience optimization → talent development quality,” along with a moderating effect model where “digital literacy” acts as a mediator. Statistical validation is conducted using structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analysis. The findings demonstrate that educational digital transformation significantly enhances the quality of talent cultivation in higher education institutions. Both pedagogical innovation and optimized learning experiences partially mediate this relationship. The digital literacy of both teachers and students positively moderates the impact of digital transformation on talent development quality, with particularly pronounced effects observed among those with higher digital literacy. These insights provide practical pathways and quantitative evidence for universities to leverage digital transformation in improving talent cultivation outcomes.