The recent pandemic driven by COVID‐19 has not only rewritten the way the world operates but also significantly reshaped higher education, driving a pre‐existing process of digital transformation while encouraging, in totality, a comprehensive review of the traditional model of teaching, learning, and operations in institutions. During this period, access issues on one hand and problems of engagement and resource on the other have persistently raised questions for all institutions that transitioned to remote and hybrid learning systems. This paper reviews, within the context of these changes, how the shift might determine the future of higher education in terms of online learning theoretical perspectives and adaptability in institutions. This paper examines core areas of change from digital learning platforms to support and develop students and faculty, then assesses the potential for more flexible, more accessible, more skills‐focused approaches to higher education.