14 Technology Predictions for Higher Education in 2023
4) Evolving learning modalities will meet students where they are.
"The pandemic ushered in a new era of growth and acceptance of online learning across higher education. While not all pandemic-driven online learners will persist and remain online, we expect to see universities continue to expand their online and hybrid offerings, which provide students the flexibility they need to manage their continuing education with other professional and personal responsibilities. The demand for shorter, faster, and affordable programs with demonstrable career outcomes — such as microcredentials, badges, and industry certifications — will only grow as an alternative (and complement) to the traditional four-year degree model. Moreover, the adoption of hybrid and online learning options — both synchronous and asynchronous — will allow institutions to reach more students seeking to leverage higher education to earn promotions, change careers, and acquire new skills. That's a hard proposition to bet against, especially amid economic uncertainty." — Matthew Leavy, executive vice president, Wiley
"Research on changing learning modalities and delivery methods (especially working through the teacher shortage) is growing in popularity. The landscape is shifting from physical tasks to creative and strategic, with analytical thinking becoming more ingrained in the curriculum. Introducing more personalized, self-paced, and self-directed learning will be critical in order to meet the students where they are." — Johann Zimmern, global education marketing lead, Zoom
5) Better data integration will power decision-making and boost student outcomes.
"After many years of highlighting the critical need for higher education institutions to use data to drive decision-making, many will finally take action with dedicated strategies and investments, finding that the stakes are too high to leave it to chance or have analytics siloed in different divisions of the institution. As accrediting bodies move toward requiring institutions to provide more evidence of fiscal responsibility and sustainability, institutions will need to implement strategies and tools focused on scenario planning and financial transparency. Successful and sustainable institutions will need to connect investments with financial, operational and student outcomes to ensure institutional effectiveness now and in the future." — Darren Catalano, CEO, HelioCampus, and former vice president of analytics, University of Maryland Global Campus
"As institutions rely on discrete SaaS services for their operational support and department workflows, there is an emerging opportunity to leverage common SaaS Data Platforms and services for data persistence and aggregation. Unlocking the power of institutional data across disparate systems accelerates the potential for predictive analytics to support data driven decision-making, optimize institutional operations, and promote successful learner outcomes." — Mike Wulff, chief technology officer, Ellucian
6) Workforce partnerships will strengthen the connection between college and career.
"Economic indicators show even greater pressure on businesses to accelerate their efforts to find and recruit skilled talent in their respective businesses. This is likely even as businesses and industries face increasing economic pressures. In 2023, we're going to see greater collaboration between education and industry. The days of employers waiting patiently at the end of the talent pipeline for the right employees are over. It is increasingly important for businesses and educational institutions to work together to ensure that students are prepared for the workforce and specific jobs. As a result, we should expect to see more local talent development initiatives in order to fill the future workforce pipeline. On the flip side, education leaders will feel more pressure to form connections with business and industry to help students realize intended outcomes. This will ensure that students are learning the right things in the classroom (keeping them engaged) and that employers will have truly skilled workers to fill open job roles." — Edson Barton, founder and CEO, YouScience