14 Technology Predictions for Higher Education in 2023

• 01/12/23

"The atomic unit of education is shrinking. Courses, credentials, and training options are getting smaller and more specific versus bigger and more generalized. Smaller atomic units of education allow training to be integrated into work at the project level. 2023 will be the year that learning management systems connect to knowledge management systems and where we recognize that workers are actually learners for a lifetime." — Taylor McLemore, managing director, Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator

"With the increasing adoption of Web 3.0 technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, the opportunities for higher education institutions to streamline access to education and provide students with relevant and personalized content are rapidly expanding. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way we think about education. One way institutions can do this is by incorporating the use of digital wallets, which can securely and efficiently showcase students' skills and credentials, including certifications and badges that are earned outside of traditional degree programs. These badges provide a more comprehensive picture of a student's abilities and qualifications, making it easier for employers and other organizations to assess their potential. Furthermore, institutions can benefit from having a digital verification system as it can increase trust from other institutions or employers, help to reduce administrative workload, and support students with transfer and mobility in their education." — Justin Louder, associate vice president for academic innovation, Anthology

12) The "new normal" will give way to the "new possible."

"2023 will be a year in which higher education needs to move from simply accepting and rationalizing a 'new normal' to embracing a 'new possible' in student experience. Next-generation learning models — virtual- and augmented-reality-driven learning experiences, competency-based models, and more — will enter a new phase of maturity. We'll focus not just on adoption and experimentation, but on a more mature, educator-driven approach to improving what our students experience on their learning journeys. This doesn't mean adopting technology for its own sake. Educators are becoming savvy evaluators and users of technology, selecting the best of what's around and shelving what doesn't work. What it does mean, however, is that we'll be continuously testing and tuning technology use to constantly improve how we help our students engage well, learn deeply, and finish strong." — Dr. Mark Milliron, president, National University

13) Change management will be key to successful technology projects.

"For decades, institutions of all types have been investing millions of dollars and extensive human resources into small and large technology initiatives that often fail to meet expectations and deliver results. Most institutions invest in new tools (the shiny new object) that accomplish much of what existing tools do, further complicating the user experience and missing out on opportunities to modernize and improve service to students, faculty, and staff. In other words, institutions consistently fail to reap all the benefits of change-driven, technology initiatives of any size. Over the last several years, Educause has been researching the art and science of change management in higher education and defines digital transformation as shifts in the technology, culture, and workforce of an institution — together, holistically. In 2023, institutional leaders will solidly embrace holistic and strategic organizational change management processes and practices across their major IT projects to address the cultural and workforce issues inherent in technological change. An effective change management approach will become a critically import component of any project plan, just as a budget or timeline. Additionally, change management processes will begin to be woven into the fabric of institutions to continuously maximize the benefit of new IT initiatives or retire outdated solutions in favor of ones that deliver greater benefit and value in the engagement of students." — Joseph Moreau, executive consultant, Higher Digital

14) Digital transformation efforts will be slow because change is still hard.

"Despite many previous predictions from higher education experts that the pandemic would be a catalyst for more institutions to swiftly make large-scale changes to modernize their tech stack, we're seeing the exact opposite nearly three years later. Institutions are taking longer than they did before the pandemic to start and progress on their digital transformation journeys, and we expect that trend to continue and intensify in 2023 and the next few years. Why? Because despite the seismic external disruptions to higher education's operating environment since 2020, the culture of most institutions has not changed in response — many have reverted back to their pre-pandemic 'old normal.' Most traditional institutions still operate the way they did before the pandemic — they are distributed organizations that require consensus in decision-making from a vast array of stakeholders. And while more campus leaders now understand the value and need to modernize their technology infrastructure, making a successful transition to a cloud-based operating environment will remain challenging because it requires massive changes to people and processes to work." — Vicki Tambellini, CEO, Tambellini Group