The Future of Education

The focus of higher education centers around the fact that college degrees and certificates raise the probability of successful job placement for graduating students.  Through years of technological advancements, that idea has been upheld.  This consistency has bred complacency regarding how educators approach advanced technological progress.  However, given recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence, it’s time to take seriously the idea that the current focus of higher education may become obsolete.  The landscape of humanity is changing.  Jobs and higher education are among the many areas being impacted; therefore, new conversations about these changes are paramount to the future of higher education.  Starting serious conversations about the survival of institutions of higher education begins with recognizing and admitting the changing landscape.  Educators and learners could have a say in what that landscape looks like, but only if we prioritize the benefits of education beyond the promise of jobs.  The future of higher education hangs in the balance, and educators need to be thinking and talking about what that future entails.

Keywords: higher education, future of education, artificial intelligence, education and jobs, preparation, conversation in higher education