How will the higher education sector look in 2050?

At UIIN, our community is at the heart of what we do, providing a platform for insight exchange to inspire forward-thinking transformation of the higher education. During our 2023 annual conference in Budapest, we asked delegates to share their ideas about the future goals for the higher education sector via a vision board exercise. We wanted to hear ideas on how higher education institutions (HEIs) could be supported to reach those goals, what trends and technologies they should adopt, and the key challenges for the universities towards transformation.

Thanks to everyone who participated! Here’s what the UIIN community had to share:

Goals

Our community believe that HEIs should help address the global warming crisis by driving the regenerative economy and creating solutions for societal challenges. Serving as regional hubs that operate without walls as part of a complex system, universities should facilitate the emergence of long-term sustainable pathways.

Trending keywords: regenerative economy; climate crisis; regional hubs; system

Challenges

The main future challenges as seen by our community are related to HEIs leading the democratisation of technology and navigating different regional regulations whilst building long-term strategic partnerships. In addition, conservative culture and internal silos hinder bottom-up initiatives in academia.

Trending keywords: cultural change; democratisation of technology; regional differences

Supporting ecosystem and structures

Delegates expressed the need for co-creation and integration with regions. Moving away from project-based to organisation-based collaboration enables long-term strategic partnerships. Leadership should be committed to supporting bottom-up initiatives, gender equality, and a general focus on empowerment and equity.

Trending keywords: regional integration; strategic partnerships; co-creation; DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion)

Trends and disruptive technologies

HEIs should reimagine classic formal degrees and move towards lifelong learning, with universities offering shorter modules and focusing on skills rather than grades. To make education more relevant and engaging, HEIs should practice co-design of the learning experiences with industry, and experiment with innovative approaches such as invention and immersive education. Regarding AI, robotics, or blockchain, HEIs should lead the conversation about the safe and ethical deployment of these technologies in education and beyond.

Trending keywords: AI; lifelong learning; co-design of curricula; future of skills; immersive education

The most important part in envisioning a future however is the actors. Who are the changemakers in higher education? According to our delegates, all parties play a role. They need to be proactive and undertake the tasks of “connectors” or brokers, who build bridges between different sectors and drive higher education to be more engaged and relevant.

By embracing the identified goals, addressing challenges, fostering collaboration, and leveraging emerging trends and technologies, HEIs can evolve to meet the changing needs of society and contribute to a sustainable and inclusive future. The insights gained from this conference will serve as a valuable resource for further discussions and actions in the higher education community.

If you enjoyed this article, you might like to read Bridging the Gap: Reimagining Higher Education for 21st Century Skills.

Future of Universities: Now more than ever, universities are challenged to adapt to, and even embrace, technological and cultural disruptions and lead the way towards social and economic regeneration. But how do they do this? Forward-looking universities start with themselves, by testing their educational assumptions, re-designing their approach to add value to students and faculty alike, and re-imagine their outmoded organisational structures.

Rimante Rusaite is a Senior Project officer at UIIN and holds an MSc in Environmental Policy and BSc in Psychology. Dedicated to sustainability and innovations, she’s also a design thinking coach and systems thinking enthusiast.