Here’s How Higher Education Will Change in the 2020s

My higher education experience primarily took place at the turn of the decade. My “turn of the decade” was 10 years ago, when the 2000s turned to the 2010s. As a student, I found myself watching the trends from 2000–2009 die and the groundwork for 2010–2019 become established. Now, it’s time to look to the 2020s.

This decade begins at a unique time where universities are adapting to a change in the academic climate. Students are forced to collaborate in different ways and administration needs to learn to use more technologies. The digital revolution that once loomed over the heads of higher education has been forced upon it. This is going to shape the next decade, but there are many other changes to the education climate unrelated to COVID-19.

Of course, some changes will arise in the second half of this decade. We may not have any indication of these changes at this moment. Other changes are happening before our eyes. These changes point to current trends and trends that will impact higher education over the next ten year.

1. Lectures Are Stationary

If you’ve ever taken an online course, you immediately know when your lecture isn’t unique to your class. This isn’t always a bad thing; some information doesn’t change. Professors will learn to adapt to the online learning initiative by recording one lecture and using it for Psych 101 sections A,B, and C. This means professors will actually need to do less work delivering lectures…