Technological, economic, environmental, and political forces transform education systems worldwide. At the same time, educational institutions play a critical role for developing the society and shaping our future.
When talking about trends in the education business, we would have to start with geopolitical tensions, ecological crises, global conflicts, human and planetary health, or social inequalities. In addition, the pandemic has tested our resilience, leadership and ability to manage organizations in the midst of uncertainty and constant change. With new ways of learning and virtual work, we must rebuild a system of global governance that allows us to quickly face such challenges.
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In this course, we use the following simple view outlining six mega trends that impact the higher education and research business:
Improving the student experience is the main trend put into the center. It focuses on creating a student-centric approach as the core pillar of the higher education strategy enabling change and new ways of operating. An improved student experience includes seamless personalized hands-on learning as well as mental health and well-being.
Focusing on high-velocity research improves the efficiency of grant-funded projects. It drives a greater impact on the university’s reputation supporting an ultimately student enrollment as well as researcher enrollment with an end-to-end process from the pre-award through the post-award. Artificial intelligence and robotic process automation (RPA) are built in as an important component.
Acting on data richness aims to remove data silos and effectively utilize rich campus data on student engagement, operations, and research performance. It supports real time decision making and increases student engagement. By giving them access to data that are based on their specific needs, the risk of early drop-outs can be reduced.
Attracting and retaining the workforce and talents is a key trend across industries considering the fact that HR is at the forefront of managing and supporting the shift from the so-called "Great Resignation" that has significantly impacted the higher education industry. The original Great Resignation took the world by surprise in 2021, as millions of workers left their jobs in pursuit of better opportunities, work-life balance, and personal fulfillment. For 2025, some researchers predict a Great Resignation 2.0. There is a push for more hybrid work, which will require modern HR systems to attract and retain the best faculty and administrators.
Becoming financially resilient requires budget controls and cost containment. Alternative sources of revenue must be explored – such as looking for ways to monetize intellectual property, physical property, and equipment to ensure tuition affordability for all students.
All of these trends lead to the final trend: The technology as a driver and enabler of the higher education strategy. Education professionals frame this theme as cyber everywhere. IT leaders are joining the executive cabinet to support the university strategic priorities and help them assess what is possible and what is not. Regarding cost containment, there's an expected demand of cloud and SaaS (software as a service) solutions to reduce the administrative burden and to reduce expenses.
