When we look at the future of higher education, key framing questions arise that help shape strategy and the work of our colleges, universities and Indigenous institutes. These questions, which link back to the post on the challenges for the future, are intended to encourage an internal dialogue and conversation within institutions.
Focusing on the future in 2035 — just over a decade away — good strategy work begins with a comprehensive statement of what that future may look like (good, bad and ugly). It then uses systematic planning to come back to the present and look at the actions that must be taken now to steer an institution toward a preferred future.
Rather than seeing planning in terms of incremental growth from “now,” this kind of anticipatory planning seeks to engineer change aligned with the desired future state of the institution.
The 12 important, anticipatory questions to explore are:
- Who will the students of 2035 be, and where will their learning primarily take place?
- How might demographic shifts influence the student body composition?
- Will learning environments lean more toward virtual, physical or hybrid settings?
- How will global connectivity affect student interactions and collaborations?
- What are the primary methods of instruction and assessment in the higher education of the future?
- Will there be a shift from traditional lecture-based teaching to more interactive and collaborative methods?
- How will technology enable more dynamic and competency-based assessments?
- What challenges might arise in maintaining academic integrity in digital settings?
- How can we address and overcome issues of equity and inclusion in the digital learning era?
- How will institutions ensure that technology is accessible to all students, regardless of socioeconomic status?
- What strategies can be implemented to cater to diverse learning needs and styles?
- How might cultural differences be respected and celebrated in a globally connected classroom?
- How will a focus on Indigeneity influence the education system, and how will technology support Indigenous knowledge and learners?
- How can technology be harnessed to preserve and promote Indigenous languages and cultural practices?
- What platforms or initiatives might emerge to specifically cater to Indigenous learners?
- How can curriculum design incorporate and respect Indigenous perspectives and knowledge?
- As the student population grows, how will the education system evolve?
- How will institutions handle potential over-enrolment challenges?
- Will there be a greater emphasis on scalable educational models (e.g., MOOCs, online and blended learning?)
- How might the role of traditional campuses change as student numbers grow?
- How will assessment methodologies change, and will there be a separation of teaching and assessment roles?
- Will AI play a significant role in formative and summative assessments?
- How will institutions ensure the validity and fairness of automated assessments?
- What training and resources will educators need to adapt to these new assessment methods?
- How will technology reshape the landscape of teaching and learning by 2035?
- In what ways might the evolving digital landscape influence the educator-student dynamic?
- What challenges could institutions face in integrating new technological tools into the curriculum?
- How will the role of educators adapt in response to these technological shifts?
- Which emerging technologies will play a pivotal role in enhancing the pedagogical process by 2035?
- How can institutions identify and harness the most impactful technological innovations for education?
- In what ways might these trends change student engagement and participation?
- How will institutions ensure that new technological trends align with educational goals and objectives?
- What role will education technology companies play in shaping the future of learning?
- How can educators ensure that edtech solutions align with pedagogical goals and not just commercial interests?
- What partnerships between education institutions and tech companies might emerge?
- How will the commercialization of edtech impact the cost and accessibility of education?
- What challenges will the higher education system face, especially in adapting to rapid technological advancements?
- How can institutions ensure consistent faculty development and training with evolving technologies?
- What cybersecurity measures will be necessary to protect student data and institutional information?
- How will institutions balance financial challenges with the need to stay technologically updated?
- What transformations can we expect in traditional education institutions, and how will they differ from current higher education models?
- How will brick-and-mortar institutions adapt to the rising demand for online learning?
- What role will micro-credentialing and modular courses play in future curricula?
- How might university partnerships and collaborations evolve in this new landscape?
- As we look toward 2035, what are the most pressing concerns for ensuring a robust, inclusive and effective higher education eco-system?
- How will institutions address potential digital divides among students?
- What strategies will be essential to maintain the quality of online and hybrid learning experiences?
- How can higher education balance global influences while preserving local and cultural identities?
These are not the only questions to explore, but they are pivotal to any planning process. Once these have been addressed, an institution can then explore other key questions, such as the way in which the work will be funded and supported, the kind of people needed for the imagined future, and the key challenges of change management that must addressed to make a different future possible.
These questions pre-suppose a continued growth in technology-enabled, hybrid and online learning. Given the needed capacities for the future — there will be a significant, substantial increase in domestic demand for post-secondary places —these are not unreasonable assumptions. Unless governments invest in new institutions, existing colleges, universities and Institutes will need to add that capacity.
It’s never too early to start exploring what looks like a challenging future. These questions will help.
