Abstract：In the context of accelerating the construction of the digital China, the exploration of the relationship between higher education and digital economy can help optimize the positioning and resource allocation of higher education and empower highquality economic and social development. Based on panel data from provinciallevel regions in China from 2011 to 2020, this study empirically investigates the impact, mechanism, and heterogeneity of higher education on the development of regional digital economy. The study finds that higher education is an important pillar supporting the development of regional digital economy, and its positive impact remains robust even after using instrumental variables to address endogeneity issues. Secondly, regional innovation capability is an effective mechanism for higher education to drive the growth of the digital economy. Finally, the contribution of higher education to the digital economy exhibits clear temporal dynamics and regional heterogeneity. Based on these findings, it is recommended to emphasize the role of universities in the development of the digital economy in the future. This can be achieved through exploring a system for cultivating talents in digital innovation, implementing a differentiated strategy for the combination of productionlearningresearch, and optimizing the pattern of higher education resource allocation. These measures aim to expedite the establishment of a new pattern of collaborative development between higher education and the digital economy.
