This study investigates the transformation of higher education in the post-COVID-19 era, focusing on the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and data-driven education approaches in strategic planning processes. Through a comprehensive survey of Japanese universities (N = 816), including national (52.3% response rate), public (42.2%), and private institutions (15.8%), we examined how universities are adapting their medium-term planning frameworks to address contemporary challenges. The research reveals that 98.4% of respondents recognize the importance of data utilization in strategic planning, while highlighting the need for a more sophisticated approach that combines traditional methods with Eduinformatics frameworks. Our findings demonstrate that the post-COVID-19 landscape demands strategic plans that effectively leverage both quantitative metrics and qualitative assessments, particularly in evaluating educational outcomes. The study identifies key challenges in implementing data-driven approaches and proposes a comprehensive model for strategic planning that integrates ICT capabilities with Institutional Research (IR) methodologies. This research contributes to the emerging field of Eduinformatics by providing empirical evidence for the development of adaptive, technology-enhanced planning frameworks in higher education, while acknowledging the need for flexible, institution-specific approaches to strategic management in the post-COVID-19 era.