The Future of Higher Education

As citizens and members of a society, it’s important to consider how the objectives of higher education may challenge our existing beliefs, particularly around the creation of knowledge and the value of learning environments that integrate textbook learning with cutting-edge educational technologies.

What is the primary purpose of higher education in society? What other purposes does it serve? As we look to prepare ourselves and our children for the future, what values should we uphold or what priorities should we address in higher education? Who benefits from it and who should support it? As we move further into the 21st century, what should be the primary and secondary purposes of higher education? How might, for instance, creating knowledge and learning in an environment that no longer uses books to educate, challenge our assumptions? These are some of the issues that this discussion guide explores, along with six policy possibilities as starting points for your own discussion and exploration.