The global economy in the 21st century has undergone an immense transformation as a result of technological advancement. Education must follow suit to meet the social, political, and environmental challenges that will emerge.
The education industry is expected to hit an astonishing $10 trillion by 2030 as population growth in developing countries drives vast expansions and technology fuels massive upskilling and reskilling in these countries.
In this post, we will discuss the 5 key shifts that are likely to play out impacting the educational ecosystem and learning in the future. These scenarios provide a picture of what the future is likely to look like. We will also delve into the 4 key factors, a combination of which are likely to impact the educational ecosystem and teaching methodologies of the future.
Let’s get right to it.
5 Global scenarios that will transform the educational ecosystem
1. Education as we know it
10 years from now the world economy is expected to be in a better position than what it is now, considering the growing number of educated workers entering the global workforce. The convergence in incomes is further expected to bridge the divide and bring down the global economic inequality gap between nations.
Educational institutions will continue to remain the trusted source of learning. That said, a vast number of people will need re-skilling due to automation and changing industry needs. This will place immense pressure on traditional institutions, most of which are not equipped to meet these expectations and demands. As a result, we can expect structural changes, with small-time institutions lacking the necessary infrastructure to deliver on new skill demands, closing down.
An education wave sweeping developing countries is causing millions of skilled workers to enter the global workforce. Globalization will enable these workers to undertake work from across borders while competition for jobs increases in their own countries. The demand for learning the English language will rise as more and more skilled workers undertake work from English-speaking organizations in developed countries.
That’s not all, with the learning models experiencing dramatic changes in the last decade, we will witness the rise of new trends. We’re talking about the likes of flipped classroom models and the growing popularity of 3D simulations and virtual classrooms in the Metaverse. It’s safe to say that the transformative power of digital is pushing educational institutions to pivot their business models in a bid to keep up with consumer demands and growing competition.
2. Regional alliance
Regional cooperation between nations will spearhead economic growth and increase productivity, even as countries continue to hold on to their unique national identities. Due to demographic changes, developed countries are bound to face the challenges of an aging workforce and declining economic growth whereas developing countries on the other hand will make up the majority of the world’s working population.
The educational ecosystem will see a paradigm shift with institutions opening up to the idea of sharing curriculum and educational resources with other institutions in the region. Qualifications of teachers will not just be recognized in their countries but become acceptable in other countries within the region. Teachers will enjoy better opportunities for professional development and join exchange programs.
With emerging economies in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the quality of education offered has improved, leading to an increase in student mobility. To prevent brain-drain to the West, these countries will resort to forming alliances. Such alliances are the only way to hold on to the intellectual capital that they possess and retain a skilled workforce. A focus on improving infrastructures in these regions will encourage intra-regional student movement which will drastically reduce the east-to-west migration.
Student mobility within the Asia-Pacific (2021)
With blended learning approaches, collaborating institutions can leverage regional expertise to deliver learning. Students from different countries can log in to participate in these sessions. In such learning models, schools and higher educational institutions retain their unique systems while reaping the economic and innovative benefits of participating in blended learning activities across the globe.
3. The emergence of educational juggernauts
Globalization has knit the world together, through international trade, technology, foreign capital, and labor. Backed by technology there is a growing interconnectedness and the exchange of ideas between cultures. This has led to the rise of mega organizations that enjoy global brand recognition and market share. We see this trend occurring in the education sector owing to factors like the emergence of global private and public educational giants that sweep up the market share and add pressure on smaller local institutions. Some universities succumb to the pressure, while others develop niche local offerings to survive.
Tech giants are leaving no stone unturned in the emerging markets of Asia, Africa, and Latin America where learners are heavily reliant on internet access on smartphones. These mega-tech companies now offer a host of services from content to assessment, communication, and reporting.
Another trend that is making waves in the educational space is the growing prominence of data and analytics. To that effect, the K-12 learning model is expected to become more data-driven. Learning will be more personalized where data can be captured in real-time and analyzed to provide instant feedback to teachers and parents. This will help in identifying and closing the gaps in learning and student outcomes.
4. Mobile and micro-first learning is gaining prevalence
Mobile and microlearning enable learners to partake in a rich personalized learning experience. Ever since learning online has gained popularity, educators are striving to make their educational content more appealing.
Microlearning is a technique where educators create bite-sized courses in the form of images, quizzes, videos, and games. For example, before teaching an important lesson you may ask your students to watch a short video to get a gist of the topic. Microlearning helps students learn complex topics easily.
Another technique that’s gaining popularity is mobile learning. 60% of participants in a survey preferred mobile learning because it made learning personalized and timely.
The pandemic-driven shift to mobile isn’t dissipating, giving mobile learning a massive boost. Mobile learning is not just about incorporating learning into the daily routines of students but it is a great model that makes learning more effective for users.
5. The AI revolution
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have redesigned the way computers break down data. The higher education industry has adopted AI and ML to streamline its processes, offering personalized learning experiences to students, and driving enrolments.
Countries that see a shortage in skills and labor are all set to embrace AI technologies to automate mundane tasks and save ample time for the workforce to focus on tasks that add value. Applying AI to education has automated several administrative tasks. The future of education will see a complete transformation as to who leads learning. Virtual assistants and mentors are taking over learning activities, charting out learning paths for students, identifying areas that need improvement, providing feedback, tracking attendance, and supporting teachers with various administrative activities.
4 Global drivers to impact learning in the future
1. Global economic growth
Globalization and economic growth are key factors that determine where, how and to whom education is offered. Emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America will continue to drive the global economy. As educational institutions flourish with world-class infrastructures in these nations, they will become trusted sources of learning appealing to millions of students worldwide.
2. Population explosion
The world population is increasing at a tremendous rate each year. Studies indicate that 200,000 people are added to the population every day. The world population will grow by another 1 billion people by 2030. This will add immense pressure on the educational ecosystem’s effectiveness and sustainability.
3. The skills needed for the future
In an increasingly complex and uncertain world, education can make an impact on whether people confront the challenges they face or succumb to them. In an era marked by scientific advances and a vast array of manifold societal problems, it is essential that educational curricula continue to evolve, to match the skills needed by the job market of the future.
4. Advances in technology
AI and machine learning are leading the way in growth and innovation in most industries and education is no exception. According to a report published by eLearning Industry, 47% of learning management tools will be backed by AI capabilities in the future. The use of AI in education has the potential to transform the face of the educational ecosystem. No doubt, a teacher cannot be replaced but technology can expand teaching in more ways than one.
Fortify your institution with Classe365’s robust student management software
With phenomenal technological advancements in recent times, we can expect student systems and higher education to become more personalized, collaborative, and intuitive. Conventional learning techniques are taking a back seat as concepts such as blended learning, micro-learning, and the application of AI in education are coming to the fore. To help prepare you for the road ahead, you need a robust solution to back you up every step of the way.
Classe365 is a student-centric unified software with the right tools to help you curate learning experiences that are engaging, personalized, and collaborative—empowering students to hone skills and competencies needed for the future workforce. Classe365’s power-packed features and automation capabilities will help you increase student engagement, manage tasks with greater efficiency, and maximize student enrolment. Get started today and transform the learning experience you offer. Request for a demo today.