Have spent the last few weeks talking to university administrators A half dozen told me they’re experiencing “historic rates of attrition” even at state schools. Freshmen just aren’t coming back for a second year Only anecdotal, but I truly believe the bubble is starting to pop
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Universities offer a number of things: information, knowledge, validation, community, social signalling. Last recession, there was open coursework, which did #1, but that was it. Since, #2 and #3 have come online. #3 key as it’s now possible to get a certificate of validation.
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Therefore, what’s left is community and social signalling. Both important, however not as important as knowledge and validation — which compose most of what we say is valuable about education.
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Hence what will be different in next recession are new career tracks — startups, new work — gig economy, and now new education. Which is a platform which provides validation of knowledge/skill. Decoupling education from school.
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Old model slow and heavy. Admissions. Fees. Set timings. All-or-nothing degrees. Four year commitment. New model is open to all, lower cost, flexible timings, and modular degrees. Shorter commitments. Doubt uni will die, but online ed does decouple education from schools.
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"Doubt uni will die ..." Sometimes in these conversations I get the impression that some participants think university is *all* "critical, postmodern gender theory of underwater basket weaving" -- some people want to be physicists or electrical engineers, or molecular biologists
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Any new attempt to train people in such areas will likely end up looking something like a university.
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Sure, but there are multiple ways approach that. Concepts can be done online, whereas innovation is better done in person/groups. There is tons taught about working styles as well, etc. That cannot be replaced, however it can certainly be changed.
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Potentially to the point where “uni” is unrecognisable as compared to its current form.
End of conversation
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