After the world was blighted by the pandemic, the demands are rising for innovating education – not only giving it a digital focus, but also transforming its core structure.

Universities and colleges in higher education scrambled to make a quick shift to eLearning in 2020 with nearly no preparation at all.

Institutions that relied on foreign student saw a major downfall in their revenues.

Now that the storm has passed (or its impact has synced in), what can we tell about the future of higher education?

From health protocols in the education sector to new learning trends, we explore 3 changes higher education is grappling with.

3 Ongoing Changes in Higher Education

Education leaders worldwide believe that universities will continue to face a cocktail of issues long after the pandemic. This is so because higher ed has gotten on this path of transformation after many decades. Though the sector has seen a few incremental changes, it has always proved to be a difficult area to disrupt. And now that the plan is in motion, education pundits expect the changes to continue.

According to the pundits, three major changes will dominate the future of higher education:

1. Shorter Courses

The demand for shorter, cheaper, and accessible education options is rising.

Many surveys and reports have revealed that the attitudes of learners are changing. Industry-focused courses that are sure to increase the premiums one will earn are gaining in popularity.

A greater number of families, parents, and industry people are questioning the value of degrees.

Shifting to online education proved to be a challenge for K12 and Higher Education institutions. How will they design new shorter, flexible, and cheaper courses?

The change is already underway.

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are collaborating with professional certifying bodies, such as Data Science Council of America (DASCA) in data science, Google, IBM, and others to design courses and bootcamps, which are cheaper, and less time-consuming. Most importantly, focused on career.

2. Rolling Admissions

Universities are changing the way they operate. And this is likely to continue in the post-pandemic world. How? With rolling admissions.

A rolling admission refers to accepting applications from aspirants throughout the year. Unlike in regular admission process, in this universities and colleges evaluate applications as soon as they are received.

Rolling admissions involves innovating education admission as well as pedagogy and course structures – such that they can be taken via flexible formats (a mix of digital and online) throughout the year, connecting with students before enrollment, etc.

This change may introduce more collaboration than competition in HEI space. Though existed before as well, its mass acceptance is a direct result of pandemic. The disruptions in admission process, and advancement to new levels, have thrown traditional structure in a disarray.

Distance examination administration, rolling admissions, and flexible & online learning will be the characteristics of learning in the new world.

3. Digital Health Passports

This change is not only applicable for the higher education or K12, but as a way of life across the industries and sectors.

Digital health passports are like IDs or licenses proving one’s health status. They will ensure robust health protocols, something pertinent for students.

Digital health passports can be made mandatory for students as well as international travelers. It is our hope that they will become a routine worldwide.

Students and parents seek educational institutions that best meets their academic, financial, future employment, and now health requirements. Well-established health protocols will establish trust and show school’s commitment toward students’ needs.

Education leaders must reassess what they did in the pandemic as well as in pre-pandemic untroubled days and chart out a plan for future.