A new mindset for higher education
Student expectations have changed. Digitally savvy, more connected than ever before – they seek personalisation, digital channels, customisation, and relevant learning outcomes to career prospects.
COVID-19 has accelerated the switch to digital, in line with student preferences. But outdated lecturing styles have been implemented in the digital space. Delivering 20th century content and methodology within a 21st century digital space won’t lead to 21st century learning outcomes.
The skills needed in the labour market are also shifting. Students need to be prepared to fill the skills gaps throughout their careers. Employees’ skill sets are the key to organisational growth, and our CEO survey shows that upskilling staff and attracting skilled future employees is a constant challenge for CEOs. This is further impacted by the rise of automation and AI.
The higher education market has changed, and a new mindset is needed.
Education Transformation Framework
HEIs need to adapt to the changing environment. The Education Transformation Framework of Microsoft has been applied to higher education in CEE by PwC Hungary and Microsoft Hungary. It provides a tangible vision of a smart university and a useful tool to help HEIs design their digital transformation in a holistic way.
What are the benefits?
In the short term, taking these steps will protect and expand revenues and help optimise costs. In the long term, it is important for HEIs to build smart, safe and agile operations that address student needs and allow them to succeed in the labour market.
The framework provides practical suggestions based on the four key pillars of higher education:
- Student success,
- teaching & learning,
- academic research and
- secure & connected campus.
5 steps in interactive format:
- Focus on students - conscious shaping of the student journey
- Attract, retain and support excellent academic staff
- Reimagine the way universities support student learning
- Lead and foster research, innovation and development in your institution
- Be service oriented and agile in operations
Focus on students - conscious shaping of the student journey
Students are at the heart of higher education. The primary responsibility of HEIs is to support students in reaching their potential and becoming lifelong learners in a volatile, uncertain and complex world. They should therefore be the primary consideration in the transformation process.
Put yourself in your students’ shoes. What does your university look and feel like from their perspective?
To reimagine the student journey and create a personalised digital journey, you need to understand what your students want and need, and what the factors to their success are.
By redesigning and aligning your services in a personalised way and thus creating a digital student journey, you could see:
- Increased student engagement
- Higher student satisfaction
- Improved learning outcomes
- New insights for further development
The role of higher education is to prepare students for a future that is digital, unpredictable and abundant in sustainability challenges. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare today's students to become responsible, cooperative and proactive intellectuals equipped with emotional intelligence, complex problem solving and critical thinking skills. To achieve this in an experiential way, a profound transformation of higher education institutions is needed.
The presented framework aims to support institutional transformation, inspire and define practical steps for the process. Let’s build the future of higher education together!
