How technology will change higher education
Today's educators must rethink higher education in the realities of a new world ruled by technology. Higher education is the engine of progress in the knowledge economy, and it is under enormous pressure.
Because of advances in technology, jobs and competencies are changing faster than people or organizations can adapt. The Global Competency Index showed that two-thirds of the world's population is behind in critical practical skills. According to conducting research by the World Economic Forum, the essential skills needed to perform most job functions will change by an average of 42%. Anticipating changes of this magnitude, companies are urgently trying to find and obtain the competencies needed to remain competitive. According to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers survey, a lack of skills is now one of the top three threats to business, from the perspective of executives around the world.
Universities are custodians of knowledge and stewards of human capital, so they must play a major role in preparing a skilled workforce around the world. They should not limit themselves to the confines of their own institution. They must strive to create an ecosystem and use online education to expand their reach and partner with other universities and education providers. This will require a much larger investment than the 3% of total spending currently allocated to technology in the education sector. Like any industry, universities will need digital solutions to overcome big challenges in higher education.
Go Beyond Borders
Using the latest technology, universities can go beyond the campus to reach students of all ages, academic or social categories around the world. The process begins with the introduction of tiered online learning; it provides flexibility and affordability. This, in turn, will allow students to master shorter university coursework before embarking on higher education. Technological formats, such as mobile-optimized coursework, allow the student to gain knowledge wherever he or she is. This makes it easier for a young person to adapt to a new learning environment or resume learning after a long break. A more advanced level is when universities use adaptive techniques based on artificial intelligence to personalize education for millions of people and improve its quality.
Universities are already seeing that online higher education programs are producing good results. The best MBA programs already include online learning that is more accessible to working professionals. These programs also offer tiered learning - for example, a small set of online courses that allow students to address certain competency gaps or add specific skills useful in a career.
By applying technology in all its diversity, universities can change the lives of millions of people around the world by giving them access to education. But that's not the only reward. Through deeper engagement and local industry partnerships, world-renowned, prestigious institutions of higher education can effectively foster research and solutions to today's most pressing problems.
At the center of the ecosystem
The global challenge is to make higher education more accessible around the world. Universities can be the epicenter of educational reform. Through technology, they can join forces and create a shared learning ecosystem, as well as supplement their own programs with the best courses from other institutions. The benefits are not limited to a single curriculum. Universities can also come together to launch a common credit and grading system, as well as create virtual collaborative learning spaces or gather ideas from the general public on what needs to change in existing courses and what programs are missing.
Faculty exchanges
Technology collaborations will also help reduce teacher shortages around the world. Digital ecosystems make it easy to connect subject matter experts from academia or business to offer tailored curricula to students from anywhere in the world. Other possibilities: Universities will be able to call on the best minds from the business sector or conduct online faculty exchanges with other universities. Technological ecosystems also accelerate university research.