(Editor’s Note: Change is difficult. This is especially true in organizations that have heretofore been immune to the broader forces of disruption–such as institutions of higher learning. To shake presidents, administrators, and faculty out of their stupor I have drafted the following fictional press release. I encourage all university and college presidents and their boards…

The science fiction writer William Gibson once wrote: “The future is here. It just isn’t evenly distributed.” It’s a powerful insight because it implies that savvy business people, farsighted political leaders and even average citizens can discern the future if only they heed today’s emerging trends. Five current trends, in particular, appear poised to transform…

The above headline isn’t real but it soon could be if technological advances and shifting consumer habits disrupt higher educational institutions at the same rate as the Internet affected the newspaper industry. In fact, if students turn away from today’s expensive universities and colleges at a rate comparable to that which readers and advertisers fled…

Yesterday, I delivered the opening keynote presentation at the American Technical Education Association’s 51st annual meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota. The title of my talk was “The Ten Trends Transforming the Technical Education of Tomorrow.” To demonstrate how fast the world of technical (and higher) education is changing I explained how Oculus Rift–a promising virtual…

We live in amazing times and our world is about to become even more amazing in the near future due to a plethora of game changing technologies. To understand why, it first helps to consider just a few of the technologies and trends that did not make my list: 3D printers, flying drones, low-cost robotics,…

This past September, I delivered a keynote on the future of higher education at the European Association of International Educators 2013 Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. Below is a 15-minute video excerpt of my talk. (The video doesn’t show my audio visual aids but the themes I discuss are quite clear.)

“Today’s technologies have created the biggest change in education since the invention of the printing press.” — Anant Agarwal, President of EdX Is it really possible that today’s technologies–smartphones, high-speed Internet and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)–have created “the biggest change in education since the invention of the printing press“? Yes. But, first, some perspective…

1. Online Education/MOOCs. This trend shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone following the field but did you know that Georgia Tech–in partnership with Udacity–is now offering a master’s degree in computer science for the low, low price of $7,000? Furthermore, two innovative professors at the University of Texas are now offering students the opportunity…

The faint whisper of the air leaking from the higher education “bubble” turned into an audible hiss earlier this month when the American Council of Education (ACE) announced it was certifying five free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). As this accreditation trend grows, the hiss will become a gale force wind that will leave only…

The air leaking out of the higher education bubble has just increased from a faint whisper to an audible hiss. Yesterday, the American Council of Education announced it will begin offering college credit for five different MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). This is significant because what makes MOOCs so unique is that they are offered…