NMC Horizon Report > 2014 Higher Education Edition

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NMC Horizon Report: 2014 Higher Education Edition
Keeping Education Relevant
Wicked Challenge: Those that are complex to even define, much less address
Many pundits worry that if higher education
does not adapt to the times, other models of
learning (especially other business models)
will take its place. While this concern has
some merits, it is unlikely that universities
as we know them will go away. There are parts of
the university enterprise, however, that are at risk,
such as continuing and advanced education in highly
technical, fast-moving fields. As online learning and
free educational content become more pervasive,
institutional stakeholders must address the question
of what universities can provide that other approaches
cannot, and rethink the value of higher education from
a student’s perspective.
Overview
The higher education sector has reached a critical
point where it must address the innovations that
have changed the way its learners, and the rest of
society, seek and engage with knowledge. Students
are turning to the Internet to acquire information and
news, and are spending more time there than sitting
in classrooms. Textbook providers were among the
first to acknowledge this intrigue in digital media by
including supplemental material that could be accessed
via CD. Today, many of these vendors have moved all of
their content online, offering subscription models for
institutions or individual students. The transformation
observed in higher education has been compared
to that of the newspaper industry, when many longstanding
businesses failed because they ignored how
technology was influencing their audiences. Some
education leaders believe that if universities do not
adapt quickly enough to change, they will suffer the
same fate.
Open online learning environments, particularly in
the form of MOOCs, are at the forefront of discussions
surrounding this challenge. Since the explosion of
MOOCs in 2012, a number of top-tier universities
have offered free, high-quality courses taught by their
best instructors. According to a recent survey by the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, total US student
debt is over $1.2 trillion, with 39 million young people
owing an average of $24,803. With mounting fears
of debt and an unfavorable job market ahead, some
high school graduates are reconsidering the value of
a traditional college degree. It is generally accepted
that the return on investment of attending a brickand-mortar
institution is not immediately guaranteed,
especially for professions in the humanities, including
law. This notion is forcing university leadership to
rethink what the experience of learning at the institution
through a formal education provider is worth, at a time
when there is an abundance of free resources to attain
employable skills without a degree.
Higher education stakeholders are facing a reality that
is difficult to digest; the paradigm that has worked for
over a century is gradually becoming obsolete, and
universities must renovate — or in some cases, rebuild
— their foundations if they want to stay relevant.
Some thought leaders believe that the bulk of this
transformation will happen when the credit hour
system is overhauled. Established in 1893, this basic unit
of college education has become foundational for many
other facets of university life. With the costs of tuition
steadily rising and a documented lack of skilled workers
in the global marketplace, many are questioning
whether class time can be equated with meaningful
learning. This and related concerns have led many
university leaders to propose more student-centered
programs that focus on the demonstration of learning
outcomes. Northern Arizona University’s Personalized
Learning Program is one such initiative that is based on
transcripts that show student competencies rather than
credits, in an effort to track learning in a way that can be
applicable to future employers.
Implications for Policy, Leadership, or
Practice
Adapting higher education systems to current
technological trends requires progressive leadership
and the ability to envision how formal institutions
will remain relevant in a time when quality learning
materials are more accessible than ever. The future
of higher education is being shaped by those who
acknowledge how online learning will redefine the
value of a degree, and are open to exploring alternative
means of proving skill acquisition through certificates,
badges, and e-portfolios. Institutional leaders must take
these options seriously if they are to make decisions