The next fifty years could see a golden age for higher education―but only if all players seize the initiative and act ambitiously. If they do not, an avalanche of change will sweep the system away. Who are these players and what do they need to do? Citizens need to seize the opportunity to learn and relearn throughout their lives. University leaders need to leverage the opportunities opened by technology to offer broader and deeper education. Universities need to be clear on which market segments they want to serve and how. And governments need to rethink regulations for an era when university systems are global rather than national and a student’s education can take multiple paths. Join Sir Michael Barber, Katelyn Donnelly, Saad Rizvi, and University of Toronto president, David Naylor, as we explore the future of higher education.

1. An avalanche is coming:
Higher education and the
revolution ahead
Sir Michael Barber
Katelyn Donnelly
Saad Rizvi
MaRS
11th June 2013

3. ‘It’s tragic because, by my
reading, should we fail to radically
change our approach to
education, the same cohort we’re
attempting to “protect” could find
that their entire future is scuttled
by our timidity.’
David Putnam
Speech at Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, June 2012
‘This argument about unbundling
needs to be studied and acted on
by university leaders around the
world.’
From the foreword by
Lawrence Summers
President Emeritus, Harvard University

4. An avalanche
is coming…

5. The global economy is changing

6. THE GLOBAL
ECONOMY IS
SUFFERING

7. Source: Schooltutoring.com
The cost
of higher
education
increases
every year

8. The value of a
degree has
been falling

9. Only 18% of
people think that
university is good
preparation for
today’s labour
market

10. Content is
ubiquitous

11. FACULTY
DEGREES
RESEARCH
GOVERNANCE
CURRICULUM
TEACHING/LEARNING
ASSESSMENT
EXPERIENCE
STUDENTS

12. How can universities
avoid ruin?

13. >
Relevance is not everything

14. >
Distinctiveness matters

15. >
It’s hard to please all of the
students all of the time

16. >
Much of the value added
won’t be content

17. >
Close the theory/practice gap

18. The three or four-year,
full-time degree course is
no longer the standard
offering
>

19. Relationships with the city
or region are becoming
increasingly important
>

20. As the monopoly over
awarding degrees breaks
down, universities
need to consider their
true value
>

21. ELITE
UNIVERSITIES
5 models of the future
university

22. 5 models of the future
university
MASS
UNIVERSITIES

23. 5 models of the future
university
NICHE
UNIVERSITIES

24. 5 models of the future
university
LOCAL
UNIVERSITIES

25. 5 models of the future
university
LIFELONG
LEARNING
MECHANISMS

26. @MICHAELBARBER9
@KRDONNELLY
@SAADHRIZVI
THANK YOU
www.pearson.com/AVALANCHE