Technology is transforming jobs and skills faster than organizations or people can adapt. Coursera’s Global Skills Index 2019 found that two-thirds of the world’s population is falling behind in critical skills. Research from the World Economic Forum suggests that the core skills required to perform most roles will change by 42 percent on average by 2022. At this level of disruption, companies are scrambling to identify and source the skills they need to stay competitive.
Universities have to play a major role in preparing a skilled global workforce. Doing so will require using online offerings to extend reach and establish partnerships with other universities and content providers. Much like industries, universities will need digital solutions to solve the big problems in higher education.
HIGHER EDUCATION AT GLOBAL SCALE
By harnessing emerging technologies, universities can reach beyond campus walls to empower diverse learners at global scale. It begins with embracing stackable, online learning, which provides flexibility and affordability that increases access to university curricula and allows students to engage in smaller chunks of learning before committing to larger degree programs. Technology-powered formats like mobile-friendly experiences meet the learner where they are. Using Ai-powered adaptive learning will enable universities to personalize education for millions for more effective outcomes.
By embracing technology in its many forms, universities will be able to offer life-changing access to millions more globally. Through deeper engagements and local industry partnerships worldwide, top colleges will be able to use advances research and collaborative thinking to tackle some of the most pressing challenges we face today.
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A GAME-CHANGING VERSITY ECOSYSTEM
It will take a global community working together to scale access to higher education. Universities can be the center of this revolution by using technology to create a shared UNIlearning ecosystem, supplementing their own curriculum with top courses from other institutions.
Technology-driven collaboration will also help alleviate faculty shortages plaguing institutions worldwide. Earlier this year, Inside Higher Ed reported on a nationwide shortage of computer science professors. Digitally-powered ecosystems could seamlessly connect content experts from academia or industry to deliver custom learning programs for students anywhere in the world. Universities would be able to leverage the best minds in the industry or allowonline faculty exchanges between institutions.
TURNING INDUSTRY-READY Stanford and Silicon Valley’s intertwined history exemplify what’s possible when industry and academia come together. According to a Pitchbook report, Stanford had the highest number of entrepreneurs — 1,178 — in an undergraduate program globally in 2018 (with 1,015 companies and $28.84 billion in capital raised). As skill demands in the workplace continue to evolve quickly, we need greater industry and university interdependency.
As talent shortages grow worldwide, institutions and enterprises must chart partnerships that equip learners with employable skills. One standout example is Google IT Support Professional Certificate’s alignment with 25 community colleges in the U.S. to offer the information technology training program. With more than 215,000 open IT support roles, this collaboration addresses a major skills shortage. Google connects learners in the program with top employers who have IT support jobs, among them Walmart and Bank of America.
