Working Paper 9 – The digital evolution of higher education: From high – cost failures to high – risk futures

The societal contribution of higher education is for many inestimable and time-honoured. Inan age of spectacular technological innovation, however, the role and relevance of universitiesis increasingly scrutinised and challenged. In this article we consider how universities arebeing impacted by and responding to a seemingly infinite emergence of new digitaltechnologies particularly as relates to their role as facilitators of high skilled knowledgeeconomies. We draw on the varied perspectives of those with intimate expert knowledge ofthe challenge of digital disruption to the global higher education sector and what theharnessing or refusal of digital technologies by universities means for the future of educationand work. In so doing, we consider the contribution and limitations of universities in cultivatingindividuals who are not only world ready but world resilient; able to face and surmount thevagaries of digital transformation.

Working Paper 9 by Richard Watermeyer, Hanne Shapiro, Chen Zan. Download full working paper here.