Mapping the Platforms in Higher Education – A Systematic Literature Review

Platforms have determined the interaction and actions of many players for years. They have established themselves as leading business models in both the business-to-business and business-to-customer sectors. But not only companies use platforms. Increasingly, universities are also using platform models to generate value. This article uses a systematic literature review to examine 1289 publications in this area and classifies them in a concept matrix of the use of platforms in higher education to date. It shows that some areas of universities use platforms and platform ecosystems. The area of teaching benefits greatly from Massive Open Online Courses, which are provided on well-known platforms. Other areas, such as transfer or research, are underrepresented.