Thursday, November 15, 2012

university of the future

an Australian study. From the introduction:
"Our primary hypothesis is that the dominant university model in Australia — a broad-based teaching and research institution, supported by a large asset base and a large, predominantly in-house back office — will prove unviable in all but a few cases over the next 10-15 years. At a minimum,incumbent universities will need to significantly streamline their operations and asset base, at the same time as incorporating new teaching and learning delivery mechanisms, a diffusion of channels to market, and stakeholder expectations for increased impact. At its extreme, private universities and possibly some incumbent public universities will create new products and markets that merge parts of the education sector with other sectors, such as media, technology, innovation, and venture capital. Exciting times are ahead — and challenges too.
We have summarised the drivers of change of this brave new world into five key trends:

1.Democratisation of knowledge and access — The massive increase in the availability of‘knowledge’ online and the mass expansion of access to university education in developed and developing markets means a fundamental change in the role of universities as originators and keepers of knowledge.
2.Contestability of markets and funding — Competition for students, in Australia and abroad, is reaching new levels of intensity, at the same time as governments globally face tight budgetary environments. Universities will need to compete for students and government funds as never before.

3.Digital technologies — Digital technologies have transformed media, retail, entertainment and many other industries — higher education is next. Campuses will remain, but digital technologies will transform the way education is delivered and accessed, and the way ‘value’ is created by higher
education providers, public and private alike.
4.Global mobility — Global mobility will grow for students, academics, and university brands. This will not only intensify competition, but also create opportunities for much deeper global partnerships and broader access to student and academic talent.
5.Integration with industry — Universities will need to build significantly deeper relationships with industry in the decade ahead — to differentiate teaching and learning programs, support the funding and application of research, and reinforce the role of universities as drivers of innovation
and growth."
According to Timothy Taylor many of the insights of this study apply around the world.
More about online education links here.

5 comments:

oremuna said...

digital technology impact on higher education is interesting. Is our IIITs, just a beginning?

gaddeswarup said...

I do not know much but I would think the developments may come from non-established players. The impact at primary level is also worth exploring and Sugata Mitra's work shows that there is plenty of scope there. I have come across some philothraphists in Andjra who seem to be interested in primary and secondary education. I hope that they will take note of Mitra's work and try combinations of standard education and online education from primary level itself. I understand that there are some groups in Hyderabad in touch with the Mitra programs. More about his work can be found in this blog by searching 'Sugata Mitra'. Regards,
Swarup

L said...

Can you please let me know who in Hyderabad is working with Sugata Mitra?
I had spoken to Mitra's associate some years back, but did not do anything. I am now due to retire and am planning to do some work with schools- specially small children.

gaddeswarup said...

In the post
http://gaddeswarup.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/more-links-to-sugata-mitras-work.html
The last link is to some group in Hyderabad. But apart from that I do not know any more about the group. I come to Andhra only once an year for a few days, spend rest of the time in Kolkata or Delhi, and really do not know too many people working in these programs. Once somebody asked me to contact one Somya who works on Social Audit but when I was in Hyderabad, she was away. If you are interested, I can slowly try to find some contacts, I am not sure how long it takes. I know mainly andhras from Guntur and Krishna districts.

L said...

Thank you. I will ask around myself...probably be easier for me since I live in Hyderabad.