A Knowledge Management Integration Model within Enterprise Architecture to Improve the Competitiveness of Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Higher education institutions are increasingly required to strengthen competitiveness through digital transformation, data-driven governance, knowledge-based decision-making, and sustainable innovation. Enterprise Architecture (EA) provides a strategic framework for aligning institutional objectives, business processes, data, applications, technology, and organizational capabilities. At the same time, Knowledge Management (KM) supports the creation, storage, sharing, utilization, and evaluation of institutional knowledge. However, existing EA practices are often fragmented and insufficiently integrated with organizational knowledge processes, particularly in higher education institutions. This study proposes a conceptual Knowledge Management–Enterprise Architecture (KM-EA) integration model to support the competitiveness of higher education. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) combined with bibliometric analysis was conducted on scientific publications from 2021 to 2026, using Scopus as the primary database and VOSviewer for thematic and keyword analyses. The findings indicate that EA has evolved from a documentation-oriented approach to a strategic, knowledge-based infrastructure that integrates digital transformation, data integration, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, sustainability, and stakeholder management. The proposed model consists of five interconnected layers: Strategic, Enterprise Architecture, Knowledge Management, Governance, and Competitiveness. The integration of these layers is expected to improve strategic alignment, organizational learning, decision-making, knowledge sharing, digital governance, and institutional performance. This study provides a conceptual foundation for developing and empirically validating an integrated KM-EA model specifically designed to enhance the competitiveness of higher education institutions.