Communication in higher education has grown more complex as institutions engage with students, families, faculty, staff, alumni and external partners across multiple digital channels. As expectations for clarity, accessibility, and presentation continue to rise, many colleges and universities are reassessing how information is shared in a digital-first environment.
One format receiving increased attention is the interactive flipbook. Platforms such as Flipsnack allow institutions to convert traditional documents into online publications that retain the structure of printed materials while offering greater flexibility. Rather than relying on static files that must be downloaded and redistributed with each revision, flipbooks are accessed through a single link that reflects updates in real time.
"Education institutions are managing an enormous amount of information, and much of it still lives in static documents," Flipsnack CEO Adrian Moza says. "What we're seeing is a desire to keep the familiarity of documents while making them easier to share, update, and engage with."
This shift reflects broader trends in digital communication and learning. Research on digital education tools finds that interactive and visually structured content, including images, diagrams, and multimedia elements, can significantly improve learner engagement and motivation when compared with dense, text-heavy materials.
According to the company, for many higher education teams, the appeal of flipbooks lies in this balance between familiarity and usability. Materials such as brochures, reports, newsletters, and guides can be challenging to navigate when presented as long blocks of text. Flipbooks preserve layout and flow while allowing readers to move through content intuitively, making it easier to locate information and absorb it at their own pace.
"People still value the structure of a booklet," Moza says. "The page-turning format helps readers understand where they are, which matters when documents are lengthy or detailed."
Within higher education, interactive flipbooks have potential use-cases across marketing, communications, admissions, and development teams, but their application often extends beyond those areas. "Human resources teams may use them for onboarding and training materials, administrative staff can rely on them for internal documentation, and instructional technology professionals can incorporate them into academic initiatives," Moza says. "In many cases, these publications become shared tools across departments rather than resources owned by a single team."
Externally, flipbooks can be used to present programs, campus life, and academic offerings in a format that is accessible across devices. Recruitment and informational materials may benefit from a layout that supports visual hierarchy and clear navigation. Recent U.S. education trends show that school leaders are prioritizing student engagement when implementing technology, with a majority evaluating edtech success based on how well tools support participation and interaction. Educators overwhelmingly expect interactive and multimedia tools to boost engagement, supporting the idea that content combining visuals with structured presentation resonates more with learners than dense, text-only formats.
"Sharing a single link that always reflects the most current version simplifies communication," Moza notes. "It helps teams avoid confusion and reduces the time spent managing multiple document versions."
Internally, flipbooks may support communication with students, faculty, and staff by centralizing newsletters, policy updates, and operational resources. Private or unlisted sharing options can also allow institutions to control access while reducing inbox clutter and reliance on attachments.
Consistency is another factor shaping adoption, Moza notes. "Institutions place significant importance on maintaining a unified identity across communications, and flipbooks allow design standards to be applied across multiple publications," he says. Collaboration tools enable multiple contributors to work on the same document while maintaining oversight through defined roles and permissions.
Analytics also influence how institutions evaluate their communications. Unlike traditional documents, Flipsnack publications can provide insight into how readers engage with content, including which sections receive attention and how long readers spend on specific pages. "Understanding how content is actually used changes how teams think about communication," Moza explains. "It shifts the focus toward relevance and usability."
While adoption is currently strongest at the university level, the company notes that there is growing interest in how similar tools could support communication in secondary education. Large school systems and multi-campus networks may face similar challenges around document management, staff coordination, and student communication. "We're watching how these needs evolve beyond higher education," Moza says. "The underlying challenges are often comparable."
Looking ahead, Flipsnack is positioning itself not as a replacement for traditional academic materials but as a tool that enhances how those materials are distributed and maintained. It aims to offer a middle ground between static documents and fully customized web experiences, allowing institutions to modernize communication without disrupting established workflows.
"In higher education, change tends to work best when it builds on what already exists," Moza says. "The goal is to make everyday communication clearer and more effective."
