**Abstract**

The study investigated educational innovations in universities in South Africa and Zimbabwe respectively using a desktop research design. Only peer reviewed journal articles were considered to solicit data on educational innovations and challenges that these institutions faced and examination management online. Thirty-five articles were originally obtained and were reduced to nineteen after filtering them to relevant themes linked to the topic under consideration. The results showed that most of the universities were not utilizing digital tools available to them, and the usage only accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Internet infrastructure, user capability, data bundle cost, erratic power supply, personal electronic devices and home space were among the challenges that hindered smooth running of online teaching. Examinations were difficult to manage under the uncertain conditions. Universities have a lot of work to do to ensure that migration from face-to-face teaching to online platforms sufficiently, effectively, and efficiently take place.

**Keywords:** educational innovations, COVID-19 pandemic, universities, technological advancements, e-learning challenges
