1. DIGITAL
DISRUPTION
IN EDUCATION

2. WHAT ARE WE SEEING
IN THE MARKETPLACE?
2
HYPER-RELEVANT
SKILLS
PLATFORMS &
PARTNERSHIPS
LIFELONG
LEARNING
EXPERIENCE
DRIVEN
UNBUNDLED &
PERSONALIZED
The nature of work is
changing, and
education must
prepare humans
for a radically
different future.
There is an opportunity
to increase both reach
and value leveraging
digital enablers and a
broader education
ecosystem.
Students have more
options than ever
before, and education
providers must offer
differentiated
experiences to
compete.
Tomorrow’s jobs
don’t exist today –
humans will need
access to learning to
retune and upskill
throughout their
lifetime.
With the “just-in-
time” revolution and
rise
in individualization,
education must
adapt to meet the
learner’s specific
needs in real-time.
Prepare Me for
Employment
Through the
Changes
How andWhen
IWant It
Pique and Keep
My Interest
Connect
It All

3. 3
36%By 2020, more than one-third of the
desired skill sets of most jobs will be
comprised of skills not yet considered
crucial today.

4. HYPER-RELEVANT SKILLS
4
The nature and structure of work is changing. The emergence of
new technologies, particularly AI, necessitates changes in both the
and in education to prepare for a radically different future. The way work
organized is also changing, with gig economy
platforms such as Upwork and TaskRabbit decoupling “work” from “jobs”
creating scores of independent workers.
Education providers must offer new types of education and skilling to help
students cope with the future of work, including versatile skills that can’t
automated – creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and the
capacity to rapidly reskill throughout their lifetime.
The digital revolution also means organizations have an opportunity to be
driven, and education institutions are not the exception. Data can help
providers predict – rather than react to the changing learning needs of
future.

5. 5
65%of children starting school today will
hold jobs that don’t exist yet.

6. LIFELONG LEARNING
6
The velocity of change in skills demanded by
employers is increasing. The most rapidly growing
jobs didn’t exist 20 years ago, and workers unable to
are left out of the digital economy. This presents an
opportunity to engage students as lifelong learners
them navigate transitions.
To do this, education providers must stay relevant to
students and to employers. There is an opportunity
rethink apprenticeship models and ways to accelerate
the speed to value of education.

7. 7
79%of business leaders across industries
believe that the future workforce will
be structured more by project than
job function.

8. UNBUNDLED & PERSONALIZED
8
With a shift to rapid reskilling and lifelong learning, education must also
adapt to meet the learner’s needs in real-time. Predictive analytics
offers opportunities to anticipate needs to present personalized
recommendations and customized offerings. New players such as
Knewton are finding ways to curate learning experiences.
Unbundled models have the potential to reach people whose
needs are not met by traditional educational models. Today,
coding bootcamps offer rapid, cost-effective training and
compelling placement rates.Traditional institutions are also
uniquely positioned to gain share in this space. Arizona State
University, for example, launched an unbundled freshman year
in partnership with edX.

9. 9
60%of universities will use VR to create an
enhanced simulation and learning
environment by 2021.

10. EXPERIENCE DRIVEN
10
A seemingly infinite supply of educational content is now available
online at free or low cost. Education providers must differentiate in
the classroom and offer dynamic experiences that connect learning
real-world scenarios (e.g., pitching a startup idea to VCs, simulating
corporate turnaround).
There is an opportunity to use virtual and augmented reality to
immersive experiences for learners. These technologies can
facilitate authentic learning experiences for users in a low-stakes
Students also expect seamless digital experiences across all aspects
campus and academic life.
To compete, providers must meet learners wherever they are –
digital channels – with differentiated offerings that are easy to
transparent, and delightful.

11. 11
70MNumber of users of Google’s
Education suite, up from 50M in 2015.

12. PLATFORMS & PARTNERSHIPS
12
The industry is faced with cost pressures that threaten the
economics of traditional models.There is an opportunity for
education providers, governments, employers, and adjacent
industries to come together in order to reach more students and
deliver greater value.
Digital marketplace models create an opportunity to connect
students worldwide to an ecosystem of learning and experiences.
Using partnerships and platforms to bring relevant offerings to
students allows providers to do so faster and with greater scale.

13. ENTRANTS (OLD AND NEW) ARE
RESPONDING TO DEMANDS
Free project-based tech
training and housing without
teachers or curricula.
Online courses sponsored
by employers offering
cryptocurrency incentives.
Platform to track and
certify lifelong informal
and formal learning.
“REACH” apprenticeship
program providing an
alternative pathway to hiring.
“Unicorn” in-demand tech
training platform for
employers and individuals.
Offering free lifelong
executive education for
alumni.
Free freshman year curriculum
with the option to purchase
transfer credit upon completion.
Analytics platform to assess
progress and recommend
content tailored to learner needs.
On-demand courses
taught by world famous
faculty.
Using devices as a tool.
Helps teachers create lessons
using students’ mobile devices as
a tool.
Enables virtual reality field trips
powered by inexpensive Google
Cardboard headsets.
Educational resources for
teachers using the ubiquitous
Amazon platform.
Establishing global “micro
campuses” via partnerships
with global universities
13
HYPER-RELEVANT
SKILLS
PLATFORMS &
PARTNERSHIPS
LIFELONG
LEARNING
EXPERIENCE
DRIVEN
UNBUNDLED &
PERSONALIZED
Prepare Me for
Employment
Through the
Changes
How andWhen
IWant It
Pique and Keep
My Interest
Connect
It All

14. 14
WHAT’S NEXT?
RESPONDING TO DISRUPTIVE FORCES
WITH FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR
THE FORCE YOUR ACTION
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
INTERNET OF THINGS
DIGITAL
PERSONALIZATION
EMERGING ENTRANTS
RISING COSTS
SKILLS GAP
Automate where appropriate and embrace the power of AI to increase convenience
for learners and anticipate their needs.
Strategically use web-based platforms to both collect data and connect everything
for your learners to provide access in the moment of demand.
Partner with employers and government to understand and continuously adapt
offering to real-time in-demand competencies.
Prioritize investments in digital channels and digitized assets that deliver flexibility
and efficiency for all stakeholders.
Understand your consumer with investments in data and analytics. Consider
partnerships and ways to turn insights into action at scale.
Listen to your consumer and create a culture of innovation that will enable you to
proactively and continuously exceed their expectations.
Expand traditional operating models to increase the degree of choice for students
and unbundle costs that have historically been grouped in degrees.

15. 15
SPOTLIGHT: ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
& EDX
GLOBAL FRESHMAN ACADEMY
Arizona State has partnered with edX, a MassiveOnlineOpen
Course (MOOC) platform, to provide freshman year courses free
and open to anyone on the edX platform.
Students can pay to receive credit for ASUx courses after passing
and may repeat courses at any time, providing a cost-effective
“pay for results” option.
ASU has also launched me3, an interactive assessment platform
and app to guide students through the selection of career paths,
related educational offerings, and exploration of the job market.
CONNECT IT ALL
AFFORDABLE &
FLEXIBLE OPTIONS

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All rights reserved.
Accenture, its logo and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture. 16
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countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives.Visit us at www.accenture.com.
linkedin.com/in/jonathan-fry-a158551/
@jonathanfryacn
Jonathan Fry
Head of Education
North America
jonathan.a.fry@accenture.com
Learn more at https://www.accenture.com/digitalstudent.