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Strategic shifts: Australian higher education
At Holon IQ’s Global Impact Summit in October, our Chief Academic Officer Sue Kokonis joined Studiosity founder Jack Goodman and Tim Dodd, Higher Education Editor at The Australian to explore the drivers of change in higher education and the emerging models, partnerships and approaches available to us as we negotiate that change.
Here are some key excerpts:
The employee of the future
“If we time travel a graduate from 2022 forward by five years, they are likely to be interacting with colleagues/clients/customers in completely different ways than we can currently imagine, far beyond our contemporary use of big data sets and social media communication channels. The successful employee of the future will need to be able to handle change, be agile in upskilling, and possess emotional intelligence to negotiate the interface between technology and humans. We have a duty to prepare students for a high-tech future.”
The challenges of quality online learning
“Many of the challenges of learning practical skills online are being addressed by virtual laboratories, coding rooms and digital spaces that allow real time collaboration on design briefs and projects. Students are able to practice medical procedures, prepare for education placements and build skills to manage difficult conversations via immersive simulations that combine AI and actors or responsive branch scenarios that students can interact with.”
“We have a much better understanding of what students want and need in the online context than even a couple of years ago. And while technology is critical, it needs to be the seamless enabler of the main act, in which human interaction and connection still play a large part.”
Disruptors in the market
“At this stage from an employer’s perspective, while shorter industry-based courses are valued, it is currently only in the IT space that employers are actually preferencing them over degrees. Whether other industries will follow is still up for debate. If more options become available and widely accepted as pathways towards careers, students may increasingly weigh up their investment of time, resources and fees. Short courses backed by industry partnerships are likely to further increase the pressure on traditional higher education offerings.”
How universities can respond
“The university of the very near future may require a Chief Content Officer who can ensure degree offerings are responsive to knowledge areas that are in short supply, offering innovative, personalised learning experiences that foster connection with other students, industry and researchers, across a range of credentials from bite size upskilling to deep dive qualifications.”
You can read Sue’s full article, including extensive research links, on OES insights.
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Hot topic
Reimagining learning: how hyflex is shifting the flexibility dial
Can hyflex models solve the emerging challenge of how to combine online, synchronous, face-to-face and asynchronous learning?
Find out what learning design experts in Australia and the UK, including the OES Director of Learning Design, a Lead Learning Designer and the OES UK Director, Academic and Operations, think about the opportunities and challenges of hyflex, and what universities can do to get this model working for both academics and students.
Our take
How to select courses and programs to build a successful online portfolio
While world class academics, research and citations, industry income and international outlook are all important indicators in a university’s rankings and reputation, a key plank to success in the online education strategy is the course portfolio.
Andrea Burrows, Managing Director, OES UK, shares her thoughts on the selection of the online education portfolio as a key differentiator and success factor, and why it should be regarded as a foundational element for the university of the future.
Out and about
OES scoops the pool at LearnX
LearnX Live! is an international awards program that recognises multiple fields within learning, development and talent management across the corporate, education and public-service sectors. The awards formally recognise some of our most innovative learning design work and deep collaboration with our valued partners. Congratulations to all involved!
OES & Engineering Education Australia (EEA)
- Platinum Award for Best Learning Model (Online)
- Diamond Award for Best eLearning Project (Industry Specific)
- Diamond Award for Best Learning and Talent Development (Industry Specific)
OES & University of Auckland Business School
- Platinum Award for Best eLearning Project
- Platinum Award for Best eLearning Design (Agile)
LearnX Diamond Award
LearnX Platinum Award
Engineering Education Australia
University of Auckland Business School
Listen and learn
Happy holidays & festive listening
We hope everyone has a restful break during the university shutdown period and festive season. We look forward to engaging with you in the New Year.
Perfect for holiday listening, our five-part, limited series podcast The Thought Bubble brings cross-disciplinary expert voices straight to your ears while you stroll the beach, relax at home or even tackle your festive meal prep!
Here are some of the big topics we’re exploring:
- How could the Metaverse transform higher education?
- Has the era of borderless education finally arrived?
- Can universities maintain trust when adopting AI?
Check out all our episodes or listen now on Spotify, Apple, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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