the student room - the future student: what to expect in the next ten years
TRANSCRIPT
P O W E R E D B Y
What to expect in the next ten years
Designed for on-screen viewing
In 2004 the class of 2024 was born And so was lsquoThe Facebookrsquo that finished the year with one million users Smartphones and iPhones hadnrsquot been invented Yahoo was the worldrsquos most popular website And there were just over six million broadband users in the UK Twitter YouTube Instagram and Snapchat didnrsquot exist Today the class of 2024 is ten How will our future students be studying in ten yearsrsquo time Well you canrsquot predict the future can you But you can anticipate it and embrace some of the emerging trendsSo in the Summer of 2014 we went on a mission to understand just what the next ten years could look like for a new generation of students We partnered with the Future Index and with our own student interns from the University of Sussex to explore what the world has in store for us all Rather than bury the narrative in a world of statistics and charts our intention was always to produce a simple compelling read Something that introduces the big trends out there whilst providing the links to click on to delve in much further
click sections
2 Bring Your
Own
1 Digital
Natives
6 Industry
3 Campus
8 Edtech
4 Courses
10 Global
Students
5 Work
9 Rockstars
7 Seismic
Shifts
Imagine todayrsquos school-leaving students Snapchats reverberate across bars tweets fill classrooms and projects get mashed-up through Oovoo Welcome to Generation Z - the Five Screen Generation A generation thatrsquos already testing the capacity of wi-fi networks and clouds across the world
In 2024 todayrsquos eight year old could be starting college But before we fast-forward ten years letrsquos think about them right now Think about them learning in a way that wersquove never quite seen before In groups yet at a distance Close up yet through a camera
Many are building too Building with Loom bands or with Minecraft bricks watching You-Tube tutorials sharing photos and videos showcasing in the playground The 2024 generation are already signed up to the Flipped Classroom
They are already embracing the MOOC idea Yet they still crave the classroom to debate and the sandpit to invent Undeniably digital natives they are ready to play in a whole new world
Digital Natives
1
By 2024 everywhere will be so much more connected
As the world prepares to wear technology expect to see students trying on Google Glass and future eyewear but donrsquot be surprised to see wearable technology compress into the eye itself inside ears onto arms and around wrists
Apps like Smiledrive - pulling road-trip stories together from a car seat - already signal a desire to record and to measure Whilst IM conversation may remain first instant delete and then deleted the Big Data behind health will lead to greater analysis of future well-being DNA profiles may even indicate potential academic success and influence decisions accordingly
Population centres like Santander in Spain are already laying claim to being the Smart Cities of the future By 2024 everywhere will be so much more connected Technology will have much greater control of traffic pollution and fuel consumption - all areas that will need critical help Our 2024 student will be immersed in the lsquoInternet of Thingsrsquo - hot wired to their environment Of course they will want to be there on their own terms
Televisions will slide into mirrors and even get pasted onto walls In 2014 Sky Netflix YouTube Hulu and others are leading the charge of on-demand TV and personalised adverts Ten years on and broadcast will get even more personal It will be everywhere too as the Five Screen Generation give way to a multi-screen-anywhere appetite
We are already inside a digital broadcast revolution Whilst CGI actors are screen casting daily expect to see the rise of Hologram TV We are already used to seeing people holograms during US elections - maybe by 2024 we will see the Wimbledon Final on our coffee tables Watch out too for the worldrsquos best professors making their own pixel-generated appearance on the floors of lectures worldwide
BuildYourOwn
An emerging trend right now is for students to design their own unique Higher Education portfolio This could consist of a degree course Then again it might not Therersquos certainly a lot of choice out there - from a one year university accelerator course to a weekend boot camp from a six week MOOC to an eighteen minute Ted Talk and from start up incubators to internships in China In the US theyrsquove coined the term EduPunks to describe this new wave of student trail-blazers There is even an EduPunk Atlas of opportunity to explore For many itrsquos simply DIY or BYO (Build Your Own)
By 2024 we should see this trend move into the main-stream and forward thinking universities will thrive with revolutionised timetables and partnerships Expect to see third-party experts advising on education opportunities whilst legal challenges to existing admissions procedures could completely change the way that students apply to university
2
Some say the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) turned four this year Arguably itrsquos been around a lot longer Itrsquos certainly no longer the new kid on the block Then there are SPOCs (Small Personalised Online Courses) Donrsquot forget the VOOCs (Vocational) too And therersquos also the lsquoSimultaneousrsquo variety - when everyone around the world sets their alarm clocks to join a lecture at the same time Meanwhile in Rwanda a student is attempting to push the boundaries by working through a 3 year lsquoelitersquo university MBA by studying a number of MOOCs all at a combined cost of less that $1000 In the run up to 2024 we will see these courses come and go We will see them diversify and get re-purposed Universities will harness their resources and create a MOOC for everything - as course tasters as application guides for induction extra-curriculum and preparation for future careers
We are used to searching for help If we want to learn something quickly we Google it Forums blogs and You Tube tutorials help us all to play games fix domestic appliances learn hobbies and acquire new knowledge This ability to lsquosearch educatersquo will be fundamental to the 2024 student After all they were learning via You Tube when they were just eight years old Quick easily digestible education such as Kings Collegersquos lsquo3 Minute Thinkingrsquo Ted Talks and the rsquo30 Second MBArsquo will be more widespread and even easier to consume
2024 will be twenty four hour The new generation will simply expect it Access to campus to online learning and to support networks will be constant Open Days will have extended into anytime virtual experiences and the most accessible institutions will have followed Stanfordrsquos dSchool lead of allowing prospective students to book a visit whenever they want 247
In 2014 US magazine Forbes focused Higher Education reviews into a hashtag - MyTopCollege Itrsquos a sign of things to come Whilst review sites are appearing everywhere itrsquos the peer-to-peer ones that will prove most interesting Just as Trip Advisor style reports changed the holiday booking industry the 5-star rating could be just as important to a student in 2024 Definitely one to watch
Future students will want space to think to question debate and share They will want to be heard Sometimes they will go incognito Forums networks and trusted communities like The Student Room will anticipate trends and continue to thrive
2024 will be twenty four hour We will expect it
Campus
Students will expect the best possible value for their money and the next ten years will see Higher Education investment polarise even further On one level we will see more and more shiny buildings and expensively kitted facilities On the other we will see low-cost online offerings and stripped-to-basics campuses to minimise cost We may see more hubs like Central Londonrsquos Makerversity offering the very latest technology such as 4D printers (yes we will go up a dimension) for outsourcing to both universities and students 3
Moscowrsquos Skolkovo Innovation Centre is one of many new style hubs emerging around the world Here start-up businesses mix with research and education to create an almost organic learning experience Then therersquos MediaCityUK in Manchester integrating student education alongside the daily workings of the BBC And watch the emergence of programmes like the Emmerson Accelerator in Boston encouraging students to learn and be mentored whilst setting up their own business
Meanwhile over in Pittsburgh we see a very different development Saxifrege School is on a mission to provide education on a shoe-string - if the local community already has it then use it Here you will find seminars in the local coffee shop and businesses lending facilities - all designed to reduce the cost of education
The Amani Institute could certainly be a trend-setter for the 2024 student experience Focused on world-changing missions rather than subjects here we find flipped weekend classrooms in Nairobi where students discuss the George Washington University MOOC content they have been studying during the week All designed to make a difference to the local environment in Kenya We know that more and more future students will seek out purposeful goals as a backbone to their future education - this is just one of the ways they could feed their ambitions
Minerva University is claiming it can take on the American elite but at a much lower cost Recruiting the brightest students from around the world the aim is to fly them to different global centres to learn together in bursts of activity whilst spending time away learning from the best academics online 2024 should see an abundance of this type of hybrid learning
The University of the Arctic is not really an institution in its own right Itrsquos more a collaboration in teaching and research combining the strengths of institutions to understand this important part of our global infrastructure Future students will warm to this type of education No boundaries more impact3
Innovative hubs are emerging around the world
Cou
rses
The 2024 student will want to know exactly what awaits them in Higher Education Content curation and creation are already bringing the experience to life especially when it comes to a wider campus experience But we will also see bigger strides in explaining how courses will be taught Todayrsquos sample lectures will give way to a more immersive approach enabling potential applicants to take part in the type of teaching and learning they can expect In the US Brown University are now offering a MOOC for school learners to enjoy future learning of STEM subjects and the progressive dSchool at Stanford produce a downloadable lsquoplaybookrsquo to enable school teachers to recreate the classroom experience students can expect Itrsquos all about bringing the experience forward Watch this trend accelerate
4
As both students and employers demand a greater breadth of skills and competencies we will see new ways of accreditation that go beyond the degree certificate itself Already we have universities such as UC Davis launching a badge system to reward learning in team-work presentation skills creativity and the use of social media Itrsquos a trend that taps into the heart of how younger people are playing games and self-educating themselves online As more and more institutions recognise the importance of well rounded skill-sets we will see core curricula embracing a new wave of teaching and recognition
Universities are already wrestling with the challenge of balancing knowledge based learning with practical experience Students in 2024 will undoubtedly have a greater choice in which way they go or how they mix it up This will be supported by the rise of industry led institutions and courses that take education down the route that best suits future needs
We already have a number of BYO (Build Your Own) courses notably in the creative arena Ravensbourne in London offers a postgraduate programme that allows students to select all the components of their study Itrsquos happening in undergraduate engineering courses too with world leading institutions like MIT setting the pace If you want to design your own course in 2024 there will be more opportunities to do so
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written Hyper Island has already thrown out lectures and text books to focus 100 on live practical work often based on briefs from industry partners Innovation-minded companies like Google and Adidas will continue to partner with courses to develop real work for the real world By 2024 this learning style will be much more widespread
Over the next few years students and employers will challenge the relevancy of teaching to a fast changing digitally led modern world Economics students will insist on learning the latest theory and Marketing students will tire of out-of-date case studies from 20 years ago Ben and Jerryrsquos stories will give way to lessons in disruption innovation and co-creation - often drawn from the current environment MITrsquos Openware provides a glimpse of what the future could be like with teaching content flowing in every day wiki-style celebrating an ever changing world
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
In 2004 the class of 2024 was born And so was lsquoThe Facebookrsquo that finished the year with one million users Smartphones and iPhones hadnrsquot been invented Yahoo was the worldrsquos most popular website And there were just over six million broadband users in the UK Twitter YouTube Instagram and Snapchat didnrsquot exist Today the class of 2024 is ten How will our future students be studying in ten yearsrsquo time Well you canrsquot predict the future can you But you can anticipate it and embrace some of the emerging trendsSo in the Summer of 2014 we went on a mission to understand just what the next ten years could look like for a new generation of students We partnered with the Future Index and with our own student interns from the University of Sussex to explore what the world has in store for us all Rather than bury the narrative in a world of statistics and charts our intention was always to produce a simple compelling read Something that introduces the big trends out there whilst providing the links to click on to delve in much further
click sections
2 Bring Your
Own
1 Digital
Natives
6 Industry
3 Campus
8 Edtech
4 Courses
10 Global
Students
5 Work
9 Rockstars
7 Seismic
Shifts
Imagine todayrsquos school-leaving students Snapchats reverberate across bars tweets fill classrooms and projects get mashed-up through Oovoo Welcome to Generation Z - the Five Screen Generation A generation thatrsquos already testing the capacity of wi-fi networks and clouds across the world
In 2024 todayrsquos eight year old could be starting college But before we fast-forward ten years letrsquos think about them right now Think about them learning in a way that wersquove never quite seen before In groups yet at a distance Close up yet through a camera
Many are building too Building with Loom bands or with Minecraft bricks watching You-Tube tutorials sharing photos and videos showcasing in the playground The 2024 generation are already signed up to the Flipped Classroom
They are already embracing the MOOC idea Yet they still crave the classroom to debate and the sandpit to invent Undeniably digital natives they are ready to play in a whole new world
Digital Natives
1
By 2024 everywhere will be so much more connected
As the world prepares to wear technology expect to see students trying on Google Glass and future eyewear but donrsquot be surprised to see wearable technology compress into the eye itself inside ears onto arms and around wrists
Apps like Smiledrive - pulling road-trip stories together from a car seat - already signal a desire to record and to measure Whilst IM conversation may remain first instant delete and then deleted the Big Data behind health will lead to greater analysis of future well-being DNA profiles may even indicate potential academic success and influence decisions accordingly
Population centres like Santander in Spain are already laying claim to being the Smart Cities of the future By 2024 everywhere will be so much more connected Technology will have much greater control of traffic pollution and fuel consumption - all areas that will need critical help Our 2024 student will be immersed in the lsquoInternet of Thingsrsquo - hot wired to their environment Of course they will want to be there on their own terms
Televisions will slide into mirrors and even get pasted onto walls In 2014 Sky Netflix YouTube Hulu and others are leading the charge of on-demand TV and personalised adverts Ten years on and broadcast will get even more personal It will be everywhere too as the Five Screen Generation give way to a multi-screen-anywhere appetite
We are already inside a digital broadcast revolution Whilst CGI actors are screen casting daily expect to see the rise of Hologram TV We are already used to seeing people holograms during US elections - maybe by 2024 we will see the Wimbledon Final on our coffee tables Watch out too for the worldrsquos best professors making their own pixel-generated appearance on the floors of lectures worldwide
BuildYourOwn
An emerging trend right now is for students to design their own unique Higher Education portfolio This could consist of a degree course Then again it might not Therersquos certainly a lot of choice out there - from a one year university accelerator course to a weekend boot camp from a six week MOOC to an eighteen minute Ted Talk and from start up incubators to internships in China In the US theyrsquove coined the term EduPunks to describe this new wave of student trail-blazers There is even an EduPunk Atlas of opportunity to explore For many itrsquos simply DIY or BYO (Build Your Own)
By 2024 we should see this trend move into the main-stream and forward thinking universities will thrive with revolutionised timetables and partnerships Expect to see third-party experts advising on education opportunities whilst legal challenges to existing admissions procedures could completely change the way that students apply to university
2
Some say the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) turned four this year Arguably itrsquos been around a lot longer Itrsquos certainly no longer the new kid on the block Then there are SPOCs (Small Personalised Online Courses) Donrsquot forget the VOOCs (Vocational) too And therersquos also the lsquoSimultaneousrsquo variety - when everyone around the world sets their alarm clocks to join a lecture at the same time Meanwhile in Rwanda a student is attempting to push the boundaries by working through a 3 year lsquoelitersquo university MBA by studying a number of MOOCs all at a combined cost of less that $1000 In the run up to 2024 we will see these courses come and go We will see them diversify and get re-purposed Universities will harness their resources and create a MOOC for everything - as course tasters as application guides for induction extra-curriculum and preparation for future careers
We are used to searching for help If we want to learn something quickly we Google it Forums blogs and You Tube tutorials help us all to play games fix domestic appliances learn hobbies and acquire new knowledge This ability to lsquosearch educatersquo will be fundamental to the 2024 student After all they were learning via You Tube when they were just eight years old Quick easily digestible education such as Kings Collegersquos lsquo3 Minute Thinkingrsquo Ted Talks and the rsquo30 Second MBArsquo will be more widespread and even easier to consume
2024 will be twenty four hour The new generation will simply expect it Access to campus to online learning and to support networks will be constant Open Days will have extended into anytime virtual experiences and the most accessible institutions will have followed Stanfordrsquos dSchool lead of allowing prospective students to book a visit whenever they want 247
In 2014 US magazine Forbes focused Higher Education reviews into a hashtag - MyTopCollege Itrsquos a sign of things to come Whilst review sites are appearing everywhere itrsquos the peer-to-peer ones that will prove most interesting Just as Trip Advisor style reports changed the holiday booking industry the 5-star rating could be just as important to a student in 2024 Definitely one to watch
Future students will want space to think to question debate and share They will want to be heard Sometimes they will go incognito Forums networks and trusted communities like The Student Room will anticipate trends and continue to thrive
2024 will be twenty four hour We will expect it
Campus
Students will expect the best possible value for their money and the next ten years will see Higher Education investment polarise even further On one level we will see more and more shiny buildings and expensively kitted facilities On the other we will see low-cost online offerings and stripped-to-basics campuses to minimise cost We may see more hubs like Central Londonrsquos Makerversity offering the very latest technology such as 4D printers (yes we will go up a dimension) for outsourcing to both universities and students 3
Moscowrsquos Skolkovo Innovation Centre is one of many new style hubs emerging around the world Here start-up businesses mix with research and education to create an almost organic learning experience Then therersquos MediaCityUK in Manchester integrating student education alongside the daily workings of the BBC And watch the emergence of programmes like the Emmerson Accelerator in Boston encouraging students to learn and be mentored whilst setting up their own business
Meanwhile over in Pittsburgh we see a very different development Saxifrege School is on a mission to provide education on a shoe-string - if the local community already has it then use it Here you will find seminars in the local coffee shop and businesses lending facilities - all designed to reduce the cost of education
The Amani Institute could certainly be a trend-setter for the 2024 student experience Focused on world-changing missions rather than subjects here we find flipped weekend classrooms in Nairobi where students discuss the George Washington University MOOC content they have been studying during the week All designed to make a difference to the local environment in Kenya We know that more and more future students will seek out purposeful goals as a backbone to their future education - this is just one of the ways they could feed their ambitions
Minerva University is claiming it can take on the American elite but at a much lower cost Recruiting the brightest students from around the world the aim is to fly them to different global centres to learn together in bursts of activity whilst spending time away learning from the best academics online 2024 should see an abundance of this type of hybrid learning
The University of the Arctic is not really an institution in its own right Itrsquos more a collaboration in teaching and research combining the strengths of institutions to understand this important part of our global infrastructure Future students will warm to this type of education No boundaries more impact3
Innovative hubs are emerging around the world
Cou
rses
The 2024 student will want to know exactly what awaits them in Higher Education Content curation and creation are already bringing the experience to life especially when it comes to a wider campus experience But we will also see bigger strides in explaining how courses will be taught Todayrsquos sample lectures will give way to a more immersive approach enabling potential applicants to take part in the type of teaching and learning they can expect In the US Brown University are now offering a MOOC for school learners to enjoy future learning of STEM subjects and the progressive dSchool at Stanford produce a downloadable lsquoplaybookrsquo to enable school teachers to recreate the classroom experience students can expect Itrsquos all about bringing the experience forward Watch this trend accelerate
4
As both students and employers demand a greater breadth of skills and competencies we will see new ways of accreditation that go beyond the degree certificate itself Already we have universities such as UC Davis launching a badge system to reward learning in team-work presentation skills creativity and the use of social media Itrsquos a trend that taps into the heart of how younger people are playing games and self-educating themselves online As more and more institutions recognise the importance of well rounded skill-sets we will see core curricula embracing a new wave of teaching and recognition
Universities are already wrestling with the challenge of balancing knowledge based learning with practical experience Students in 2024 will undoubtedly have a greater choice in which way they go or how they mix it up This will be supported by the rise of industry led institutions and courses that take education down the route that best suits future needs
We already have a number of BYO (Build Your Own) courses notably in the creative arena Ravensbourne in London offers a postgraduate programme that allows students to select all the components of their study Itrsquos happening in undergraduate engineering courses too with world leading institutions like MIT setting the pace If you want to design your own course in 2024 there will be more opportunities to do so
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written Hyper Island has already thrown out lectures and text books to focus 100 on live practical work often based on briefs from industry partners Innovation-minded companies like Google and Adidas will continue to partner with courses to develop real work for the real world By 2024 this learning style will be much more widespread
Over the next few years students and employers will challenge the relevancy of teaching to a fast changing digitally led modern world Economics students will insist on learning the latest theory and Marketing students will tire of out-of-date case studies from 20 years ago Ben and Jerryrsquos stories will give way to lessons in disruption innovation and co-creation - often drawn from the current environment MITrsquos Openware provides a glimpse of what the future could be like with teaching content flowing in every day wiki-style celebrating an ever changing world
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Imagine todayrsquos school-leaving students Snapchats reverberate across bars tweets fill classrooms and projects get mashed-up through Oovoo Welcome to Generation Z - the Five Screen Generation A generation thatrsquos already testing the capacity of wi-fi networks and clouds across the world
In 2024 todayrsquos eight year old could be starting college But before we fast-forward ten years letrsquos think about them right now Think about them learning in a way that wersquove never quite seen before In groups yet at a distance Close up yet through a camera
Many are building too Building with Loom bands or with Minecraft bricks watching You-Tube tutorials sharing photos and videos showcasing in the playground The 2024 generation are already signed up to the Flipped Classroom
They are already embracing the MOOC idea Yet they still crave the classroom to debate and the sandpit to invent Undeniably digital natives they are ready to play in a whole new world
Digital Natives
1
By 2024 everywhere will be so much more connected
As the world prepares to wear technology expect to see students trying on Google Glass and future eyewear but donrsquot be surprised to see wearable technology compress into the eye itself inside ears onto arms and around wrists
Apps like Smiledrive - pulling road-trip stories together from a car seat - already signal a desire to record and to measure Whilst IM conversation may remain first instant delete and then deleted the Big Data behind health will lead to greater analysis of future well-being DNA profiles may even indicate potential academic success and influence decisions accordingly
Population centres like Santander in Spain are already laying claim to being the Smart Cities of the future By 2024 everywhere will be so much more connected Technology will have much greater control of traffic pollution and fuel consumption - all areas that will need critical help Our 2024 student will be immersed in the lsquoInternet of Thingsrsquo - hot wired to their environment Of course they will want to be there on their own terms
Televisions will slide into mirrors and even get pasted onto walls In 2014 Sky Netflix YouTube Hulu and others are leading the charge of on-demand TV and personalised adverts Ten years on and broadcast will get even more personal It will be everywhere too as the Five Screen Generation give way to a multi-screen-anywhere appetite
We are already inside a digital broadcast revolution Whilst CGI actors are screen casting daily expect to see the rise of Hologram TV We are already used to seeing people holograms during US elections - maybe by 2024 we will see the Wimbledon Final on our coffee tables Watch out too for the worldrsquos best professors making their own pixel-generated appearance on the floors of lectures worldwide
BuildYourOwn
An emerging trend right now is for students to design their own unique Higher Education portfolio This could consist of a degree course Then again it might not Therersquos certainly a lot of choice out there - from a one year university accelerator course to a weekend boot camp from a six week MOOC to an eighteen minute Ted Talk and from start up incubators to internships in China In the US theyrsquove coined the term EduPunks to describe this new wave of student trail-blazers There is even an EduPunk Atlas of opportunity to explore For many itrsquos simply DIY or BYO (Build Your Own)
By 2024 we should see this trend move into the main-stream and forward thinking universities will thrive with revolutionised timetables and partnerships Expect to see third-party experts advising on education opportunities whilst legal challenges to existing admissions procedures could completely change the way that students apply to university
2
Some say the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) turned four this year Arguably itrsquos been around a lot longer Itrsquos certainly no longer the new kid on the block Then there are SPOCs (Small Personalised Online Courses) Donrsquot forget the VOOCs (Vocational) too And therersquos also the lsquoSimultaneousrsquo variety - when everyone around the world sets their alarm clocks to join a lecture at the same time Meanwhile in Rwanda a student is attempting to push the boundaries by working through a 3 year lsquoelitersquo university MBA by studying a number of MOOCs all at a combined cost of less that $1000 In the run up to 2024 we will see these courses come and go We will see them diversify and get re-purposed Universities will harness their resources and create a MOOC for everything - as course tasters as application guides for induction extra-curriculum and preparation for future careers
We are used to searching for help If we want to learn something quickly we Google it Forums blogs and You Tube tutorials help us all to play games fix domestic appliances learn hobbies and acquire new knowledge This ability to lsquosearch educatersquo will be fundamental to the 2024 student After all they were learning via You Tube when they were just eight years old Quick easily digestible education such as Kings Collegersquos lsquo3 Minute Thinkingrsquo Ted Talks and the rsquo30 Second MBArsquo will be more widespread and even easier to consume
2024 will be twenty four hour The new generation will simply expect it Access to campus to online learning and to support networks will be constant Open Days will have extended into anytime virtual experiences and the most accessible institutions will have followed Stanfordrsquos dSchool lead of allowing prospective students to book a visit whenever they want 247
In 2014 US magazine Forbes focused Higher Education reviews into a hashtag - MyTopCollege Itrsquos a sign of things to come Whilst review sites are appearing everywhere itrsquos the peer-to-peer ones that will prove most interesting Just as Trip Advisor style reports changed the holiday booking industry the 5-star rating could be just as important to a student in 2024 Definitely one to watch
Future students will want space to think to question debate and share They will want to be heard Sometimes they will go incognito Forums networks and trusted communities like The Student Room will anticipate trends and continue to thrive
2024 will be twenty four hour We will expect it
Campus
Students will expect the best possible value for their money and the next ten years will see Higher Education investment polarise even further On one level we will see more and more shiny buildings and expensively kitted facilities On the other we will see low-cost online offerings and stripped-to-basics campuses to minimise cost We may see more hubs like Central Londonrsquos Makerversity offering the very latest technology such as 4D printers (yes we will go up a dimension) for outsourcing to both universities and students 3
Moscowrsquos Skolkovo Innovation Centre is one of many new style hubs emerging around the world Here start-up businesses mix with research and education to create an almost organic learning experience Then therersquos MediaCityUK in Manchester integrating student education alongside the daily workings of the BBC And watch the emergence of programmes like the Emmerson Accelerator in Boston encouraging students to learn and be mentored whilst setting up their own business
Meanwhile over in Pittsburgh we see a very different development Saxifrege School is on a mission to provide education on a shoe-string - if the local community already has it then use it Here you will find seminars in the local coffee shop and businesses lending facilities - all designed to reduce the cost of education
The Amani Institute could certainly be a trend-setter for the 2024 student experience Focused on world-changing missions rather than subjects here we find flipped weekend classrooms in Nairobi where students discuss the George Washington University MOOC content they have been studying during the week All designed to make a difference to the local environment in Kenya We know that more and more future students will seek out purposeful goals as a backbone to their future education - this is just one of the ways they could feed their ambitions
Minerva University is claiming it can take on the American elite but at a much lower cost Recruiting the brightest students from around the world the aim is to fly them to different global centres to learn together in bursts of activity whilst spending time away learning from the best academics online 2024 should see an abundance of this type of hybrid learning
The University of the Arctic is not really an institution in its own right Itrsquos more a collaboration in teaching and research combining the strengths of institutions to understand this important part of our global infrastructure Future students will warm to this type of education No boundaries more impact3
Innovative hubs are emerging around the world
Cou
rses
The 2024 student will want to know exactly what awaits them in Higher Education Content curation and creation are already bringing the experience to life especially when it comes to a wider campus experience But we will also see bigger strides in explaining how courses will be taught Todayrsquos sample lectures will give way to a more immersive approach enabling potential applicants to take part in the type of teaching and learning they can expect In the US Brown University are now offering a MOOC for school learners to enjoy future learning of STEM subjects and the progressive dSchool at Stanford produce a downloadable lsquoplaybookrsquo to enable school teachers to recreate the classroom experience students can expect Itrsquos all about bringing the experience forward Watch this trend accelerate
4
As both students and employers demand a greater breadth of skills and competencies we will see new ways of accreditation that go beyond the degree certificate itself Already we have universities such as UC Davis launching a badge system to reward learning in team-work presentation skills creativity and the use of social media Itrsquos a trend that taps into the heart of how younger people are playing games and self-educating themselves online As more and more institutions recognise the importance of well rounded skill-sets we will see core curricula embracing a new wave of teaching and recognition
Universities are already wrestling with the challenge of balancing knowledge based learning with practical experience Students in 2024 will undoubtedly have a greater choice in which way they go or how they mix it up This will be supported by the rise of industry led institutions and courses that take education down the route that best suits future needs
We already have a number of BYO (Build Your Own) courses notably in the creative arena Ravensbourne in London offers a postgraduate programme that allows students to select all the components of their study Itrsquos happening in undergraduate engineering courses too with world leading institutions like MIT setting the pace If you want to design your own course in 2024 there will be more opportunities to do so
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written Hyper Island has already thrown out lectures and text books to focus 100 on live practical work often based on briefs from industry partners Innovation-minded companies like Google and Adidas will continue to partner with courses to develop real work for the real world By 2024 this learning style will be much more widespread
Over the next few years students and employers will challenge the relevancy of teaching to a fast changing digitally led modern world Economics students will insist on learning the latest theory and Marketing students will tire of out-of-date case studies from 20 years ago Ben and Jerryrsquos stories will give way to lessons in disruption innovation and co-creation - often drawn from the current environment MITrsquos Openware provides a glimpse of what the future could be like with teaching content flowing in every day wiki-style celebrating an ever changing world
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
By 2024 everywhere will be so much more connected
As the world prepares to wear technology expect to see students trying on Google Glass and future eyewear but donrsquot be surprised to see wearable technology compress into the eye itself inside ears onto arms and around wrists
Apps like Smiledrive - pulling road-trip stories together from a car seat - already signal a desire to record and to measure Whilst IM conversation may remain first instant delete and then deleted the Big Data behind health will lead to greater analysis of future well-being DNA profiles may even indicate potential academic success and influence decisions accordingly
Population centres like Santander in Spain are already laying claim to being the Smart Cities of the future By 2024 everywhere will be so much more connected Technology will have much greater control of traffic pollution and fuel consumption - all areas that will need critical help Our 2024 student will be immersed in the lsquoInternet of Thingsrsquo - hot wired to their environment Of course they will want to be there on their own terms
Televisions will slide into mirrors and even get pasted onto walls In 2014 Sky Netflix YouTube Hulu and others are leading the charge of on-demand TV and personalised adverts Ten years on and broadcast will get even more personal It will be everywhere too as the Five Screen Generation give way to a multi-screen-anywhere appetite
We are already inside a digital broadcast revolution Whilst CGI actors are screen casting daily expect to see the rise of Hologram TV We are already used to seeing people holograms during US elections - maybe by 2024 we will see the Wimbledon Final on our coffee tables Watch out too for the worldrsquos best professors making their own pixel-generated appearance on the floors of lectures worldwide
BuildYourOwn
An emerging trend right now is for students to design their own unique Higher Education portfolio This could consist of a degree course Then again it might not Therersquos certainly a lot of choice out there - from a one year university accelerator course to a weekend boot camp from a six week MOOC to an eighteen minute Ted Talk and from start up incubators to internships in China In the US theyrsquove coined the term EduPunks to describe this new wave of student trail-blazers There is even an EduPunk Atlas of opportunity to explore For many itrsquos simply DIY or BYO (Build Your Own)
By 2024 we should see this trend move into the main-stream and forward thinking universities will thrive with revolutionised timetables and partnerships Expect to see third-party experts advising on education opportunities whilst legal challenges to existing admissions procedures could completely change the way that students apply to university
2
Some say the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) turned four this year Arguably itrsquos been around a lot longer Itrsquos certainly no longer the new kid on the block Then there are SPOCs (Small Personalised Online Courses) Donrsquot forget the VOOCs (Vocational) too And therersquos also the lsquoSimultaneousrsquo variety - when everyone around the world sets their alarm clocks to join a lecture at the same time Meanwhile in Rwanda a student is attempting to push the boundaries by working through a 3 year lsquoelitersquo university MBA by studying a number of MOOCs all at a combined cost of less that $1000 In the run up to 2024 we will see these courses come and go We will see them diversify and get re-purposed Universities will harness their resources and create a MOOC for everything - as course tasters as application guides for induction extra-curriculum and preparation for future careers
We are used to searching for help If we want to learn something quickly we Google it Forums blogs and You Tube tutorials help us all to play games fix domestic appliances learn hobbies and acquire new knowledge This ability to lsquosearch educatersquo will be fundamental to the 2024 student After all they were learning via You Tube when they were just eight years old Quick easily digestible education such as Kings Collegersquos lsquo3 Minute Thinkingrsquo Ted Talks and the rsquo30 Second MBArsquo will be more widespread and even easier to consume
2024 will be twenty four hour The new generation will simply expect it Access to campus to online learning and to support networks will be constant Open Days will have extended into anytime virtual experiences and the most accessible institutions will have followed Stanfordrsquos dSchool lead of allowing prospective students to book a visit whenever they want 247
In 2014 US magazine Forbes focused Higher Education reviews into a hashtag - MyTopCollege Itrsquos a sign of things to come Whilst review sites are appearing everywhere itrsquos the peer-to-peer ones that will prove most interesting Just as Trip Advisor style reports changed the holiday booking industry the 5-star rating could be just as important to a student in 2024 Definitely one to watch
Future students will want space to think to question debate and share They will want to be heard Sometimes they will go incognito Forums networks and trusted communities like The Student Room will anticipate trends and continue to thrive
2024 will be twenty four hour We will expect it
Campus
Students will expect the best possible value for their money and the next ten years will see Higher Education investment polarise even further On one level we will see more and more shiny buildings and expensively kitted facilities On the other we will see low-cost online offerings and stripped-to-basics campuses to minimise cost We may see more hubs like Central Londonrsquos Makerversity offering the very latest technology such as 4D printers (yes we will go up a dimension) for outsourcing to both universities and students 3
Moscowrsquos Skolkovo Innovation Centre is one of many new style hubs emerging around the world Here start-up businesses mix with research and education to create an almost organic learning experience Then therersquos MediaCityUK in Manchester integrating student education alongside the daily workings of the BBC And watch the emergence of programmes like the Emmerson Accelerator in Boston encouraging students to learn and be mentored whilst setting up their own business
Meanwhile over in Pittsburgh we see a very different development Saxifrege School is on a mission to provide education on a shoe-string - if the local community already has it then use it Here you will find seminars in the local coffee shop and businesses lending facilities - all designed to reduce the cost of education
The Amani Institute could certainly be a trend-setter for the 2024 student experience Focused on world-changing missions rather than subjects here we find flipped weekend classrooms in Nairobi where students discuss the George Washington University MOOC content they have been studying during the week All designed to make a difference to the local environment in Kenya We know that more and more future students will seek out purposeful goals as a backbone to their future education - this is just one of the ways they could feed their ambitions
Minerva University is claiming it can take on the American elite but at a much lower cost Recruiting the brightest students from around the world the aim is to fly them to different global centres to learn together in bursts of activity whilst spending time away learning from the best academics online 2024 should see an abundance of this type of hybrid learning
The University of the Arctic is not really an institution in its own right Itrsquos more a collaboration in teaching and research combining the strengths of institutions to understand this important part of our global infrastructure Future students will warm to this type of education No boundaries more impact3
Innovative hubs are emerging around the world
Cou
rses
The 2024 student will want to know exactly what awaits them in Higher Education Content curation and creation are already bringing the experience to life especially when it comes to a wider campus experience But we will also see bigger strides in explaining how courses will be taught Todayrsquos sample lectures will give way to a more immersive approach enabling potential applicants to take part in the type of teaching and learning they can expect In the US Brown University are now offering a MOOC for school learners to enjoy future learning of STEM subjects and the progressive dSchool at Stanford produce a downloadable lsquoplaybookrsquo to enable school teachers to recreate the classroom experience students can expect Itrsquos all about bringing the experience forward Watch this trend accelerate
4
As both students and employers demand a greater breadth of skills and competencies we will see new ways of accreditation that go beyond the degree certificate itself Already we have universities such as UC Davis launching a badge system to reward learning in team-work presentation skills creativity and the use of social media Itrsquos a trend that taps into the heart of how younger people are playing games and self-educating themselves online As more and more institutions recognise the importance of well rounded skill-sets we will see core curricula embracing a new wave of teaching and recognition
Universities are already wrestling with the challenge of balancing knowledge based learning with practical experience Students in 2024 will undoubtedly have a greater choice in which way they go or how they mix it up This will be supported by the rise of industry led institutions and courses that take education down the route that best suits future needs
We already have a number of BYO (Build Your Own) courses notably in the creative arena Ravensbourne in London offers a postgraduate programme that allows students to select all the components of their study Itrsquos happening in undergraduate engineering courses too with world leading institutions like MIT setting the pace If you want to design your own course in 2024 there will be more opportunities to do so
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written Hyper Island has already thrown out lectures and text books to focus 100 on live practical work often based on briefs from industry partners Innovation-minded companies like Google and Adidas will continue to partner with courses to develop real work for the real world By 2024 this learning style will be much more widespread
Over the next few years students and employers will challenge the relevancy of teaching to a fast changing digitally led modern world Economics students will insist on learning the latest theory and Marketing students will tire of out-of-date case studies from 20 years ago Ben and Jerryrsquos stories will give way to lessons in disruption innovation and co-creation - often drawn from the current environment MITrsquos Openware provides a glimpse of what the future could be like with teaching content flowing in every day wiki-style celebrating an ever changing world
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
BuildYourOwn
An emerging trend right now is for students to design their own unique Higher Education portfolio This could consist of a degree course Then again it might not Therersquos certainly a lot of choice out there - from a one year university accelerator course to a weekend boot camp from a six week MOOC to an eighteen minute Ted Talk and from start up incubators to internships in China In the US theyrsquove coined the term EduPunks to describe this new wave of student trail-blazers There is even an EduPunk Atlas of opportunity to explore For many itrsquos simply DIY or BYO (Build Your Own)
By 2024 we should see this trend move into the main-stream and forward thinking universities will thrive with revolutionised timetables and partnerships Expect to see third-party experts advising on education opportunities whilst legal challenges to existing admissions procedures could completely change the way that students apply to university
2
Some say the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) turned four this year Arguably itrsquos been around a lot longer Itrsquos certainly no longer the new kid on the block Then there are SPOCs (Small Personalised Online Courses) Donrsquot forget the VOOCs (Vocational) too And therersquos also the lsquoSimultaneousrsquo variety - when everyone around the world sets their alarm clocks to join a lecture at the same time Meanwhile in Rwanda a student is attempting to push the boundaries by working through a 3 year lsquoelitersquo university MBA by studying a number of MOOCs all at a combined cost of less that $1000 In the run up to 2024 we will see these courses come and go We will see them diversify and get re-purposed Universities will harness their resources and create a MOOC for everything - as course tasters as application guides for induction extra-curriculum and preparation for future careers
We are used to searching for help If we want to learn something quickly we Google it Forums blogs and You Tube tutorials help us all to play games fix domestic appliances learn hobbies and acquire new knowledge This ability to lsquosearch educatersquo will be fundamental to the 2024 student After all they were learning via You Tube when they were just eight years old Quick easily digestible education such as Kings Collegersquos lsquo3 Minute Thinkingrsquo Ted Talks and the rsquo30 Second MBArsquo will be more widespread and even easier to consume
2024 will be twenty four hour The new generation will simply expect it Access to campus to online learning and to support networks will be constant Open Days will have extended into anytime virtual experiences and the most accessible institutions will have followed Stanfordrsquos dSchool lead of allowing prospective students to book a visit whenever they want 247
In 2014 US magazine Forbes focused Higher Education reviews into a hashtag - MyTopCollege Itrsquos a sign of things to come Whilst review sites are appearing everywhere itrsquos the peer-to-peer ones that will prove most interesting Just as Trip Advisor style reports changed the holiday booking industry the 5-star rating could be just as important to a student in 2024 Definitely one to watch
Future students will want space to think to question debate and share They will want to be heard Sometimes they will go incognito Forums networks and trusted communities like The Student Room will anticipate trends and continue to thrive
2024 will be twenty four hour We will expect it
Campus
Students will expect the best possible value for their money and the next ten years will see Higher Education investment polarise even further On one level we will see more and more shiny buildings and expensively kitted facilities On the other we will see low-cost online offerings and stripped-to-basics campuses to minimise cost We may see more hubs like Central Londonrsquos Makerversity offering the very latest technology such as 4D printers (yes we will go up a dimension) for outsourcing to both universities and students 3
Moscowrsquos Skolkovo Innovation Centre is one of many new style hubs emerging around the world Here start-up businesses mix with research and education to create an almost organic learning experience Then therersquos MediaCityUK in Manchester integrating student education alongside the daily workings of the BBC And watch the emergence of programmes like the Emmerson Accelerator in Boston encouraging students to learn and be mentored whilst setting up their own business
Meanwhile over in Pittsburgh we see a very different development Saxifrege School is on a mission to provide education on a shoe-string - if the local community already has it then use it Here you will find seminars in the local coffee shop and businesses lending facilities - all designed to reduce the cost of education
The Amani Institute could certainly be a trend-setter for the 2024 student experience Focused on world-changing missions rather than subjects here we find flipped weekend classrooms in Nairobi where students discuss the George Washington University MOOC content they have been studying during the week All designed to make a difference to the local environment in Kenya We know that more and more future students will seek out purposeful goals as a backbone to their future education - this is just one of the ways they could feed their ambitions
Minerva University is claiming it can take on the American elite but at a much lower cost Recruiting the brightest students from around the world the aim is to fly them to different global centres to learn together in bursts of activity whilst spending time away learning from the best academics online 2024 should see an abundance of this type of hybrid learning
The University of the Arctic is not really an institution in its own right Itrsquos more a collaboration in teaching and research combining the strengths of institutions to understand this important part of our global infrastructure Future students will warm to this type of education No boundaries more impact3
Innovative hubs are emerging around the world
Cou
rses
The 2024 student will want to know exactly what awaits them in Higher Education Content curation and creation are already bringing the experience to life especially when it comes to a wider campus experience But we will also see bigger strides in explaining how courses will be taught Todayrsquos sample lectures will give way to a more immersive approach enabling potential applicants to take part in the type of teaching and learning they can expect In the US Brown University are now offering a MOOC for school learners to enjoy future learning of STEM subjects and the progressive dSchool at Stanford produce a downloadable lsquoplaybookrsquo to enable school teachers to recreate the classroom experience students can expect Itrsquos all about bringing the experience forward Watch this trend accelerate
4
As both students and employers demand a greater breadth of skills and competencies we will see new ways of accreditation that go beyond the degree certificate itself Already we have universities such as UC Davis launching a badge system to reward learning in team-work presentation skills creativity and the use of social media Itrsquos a trend that taps into the heart of how younger people are playing games and self-educating themselves online As more and more institutions recognise the importance of well rounded skill-sets we will see core curricula embracing a new wave of teaching and recognition
Universities are already wrestling with the challenge of balancing knowledge based learning with practical experience Students in 2024 will undoubtedly have a greater choice in which way they go or how they mix it up This will be supported by the rise of industry led institutions and courses that take education down the route that best suits future needs
We already have a number of BYO (Build Your Own) courses notably in the creative arena Ravensbourne in London offers a postgraduate programme that allows students to select all the components of their study Itrsquos happening in undergraduate engineering courses too with world leading institutions like MIT setting the pace If you want to design your own course in 2024 there will be more opportunities to do so
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written Hyper Island has already thrown out lectures and text books to focus 100 on live practical work often based on briefs from industry partners Innovation-minded companies like Google and Adidas will continue to partner with courses to develop real work for the real world By 2024 this learning style will be much more widespread
Over the next few years students and employers will challenge the relevancy of teaching to a fast changing digitally led modern world Economics students will insist on learning the latest theory and Marketing students will tire of out-of-date case studies from 20 years ago Ben and Jerryrsquos stories will give way to lessons in disruption innovation and co-creation - often drawn from the current environment MITrsquos Openware provides a glimpse of what the future could be like with teaching content flowing in every day wiki-style celebrating an ever changing world
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Some say the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) turned four this year Arguably itrsquos been around a lot longer Itrsquos certainly no longer the new kid on the block Then there are SPOCs (Small Personalised Online Courses) Donrsquot forget the VOOCs (Vocational) too And therersquos also the lsquoSimultaneousrsquo variety - when everyone around the world sets their alarm clocks to join a lecture at the same time Meanwhile in Rwanda a student is attempting to push the boundaries by working through a 3 year lsquoelitersquo university MBA by studying a number of MOOCs all at a combined cost of less that $1000 In the run up to 2024 we will see these courses come and go We will see them diversify and get re-purposed Universities will harness their resources and create a MOOC for everything - as course tasters as application guides for induction extra-curriculum and preparation for future careers
We are used to searching for help If we want to learn something quickly we Google it Forums blogs and You Tube tutorials help us all to play games fix domestic appliances learn hobbies and acquire new knowledge This ability to lsquosearch educatersquo will be fundamental to the 2024 student After all they were learning via You Tube when they were just eight years old Quick easily digestible education such as Kings Collegersquos lsquo3 Minute Thinkingrsquo Ted Talks and the rsquo30 Second MBArsquo will be more widespread and even easier to consume
2024 will be twenty four hour The new generation will simply expect it Access to campus to online learning and to support networks will be constant Open Days will have extended into anytime virtual experiences and the most accessible institutions will have followed Stanfordrsquos dSchool lead of allowing prospective students to book a visit whenever they want 247
In 2014 US magazine Forbes focused Higher Education reviews into a hashtag - MyTopCollege Itrsquos a sign of things to come Whilst review sites are appearing everywhere itrsquos the peer-to-peer ones that will prove most interesting Just as Trip Advisor style reports changed the holiday booking industry the 5-star rating could be just as important to a student in 2024 Definitely one to watch
Future students will want space to think to question debate and share They will want to be heard Sometimes they will go incognito Forums networks and trusted communities like The Student Room will anticipate trends and continue to thrive
2024 will be twenty four hour We will expect it
Campus
Students will expect the best possible value for their money and the next ten years will see Higher Education investment polarise even further On one level we will see more and more shiny buildings and expensively kitted facilities On the other we will see low-cost online offerings and stripped-to-basics campuses to minimise cost We may see more hubs like Central Londonrsquos Makerversity offering the very latest technology such as 4D printers (yes we will go up a dimension) for outsourcing to both universities and students 3
Moscowrsquos Skolkovo Innovation Centre is one of many new style hubs emerging around the world Here start-up businesses mix with research and education to create an almost organic learning experience Then therersquos MediaCityUK in Manchester integrating student education alongside the daily workings of the BBC And watch the emergence of programmes like the Emmerson Accelerator in Boston encouraging students to learn and be mentored whilst setting up their own business
Meanwhile over in Pittsburgh we see a very different development Saxifrege School is on a mission to provide education on a shoe-string - if the local community already has it then use it Here you will find seminars in the local coffee shop and businesses lending facilities - all designed to reduce the cost of education
The Amani Institute could certainly be a trend-setter for the 2024 student experience Focused on world-changing missions rather than subjects here we find flipped weekend classrooms in Nairobi where students discuss the George Washington University MOOC content they have been studying during the week All designed to make a difference to the local environment in Kenya We know that more and more future students will seek out purposeful goals as a backbone to their future education - this is just one of the ways they could feed their ambitions
Minerva University is claiming it can take on the American elite but at a much lower cost Recruiting the brightest students from around the world the aim is to fly them to different global centres to learn together in bursts of activity whilst spending time away learning from the best academics online 2024 should see an abundance of this type of hybrid learning
The University of the Arctic is not really an institution in its own right Itrsquos more a collaboration in teaching and research combining the strengths of institutions to understand this important part of our global infrastructure Future students will warm to this type of education No boundaries more impact3
Innovative hubs are emerging around the world
Cou
rses
The 2024 student will want to know exactly what awaits them in Higher Education Content curation and creation are already bringing the experience to life especially when it comes to a wider campus experience But we will also see bigger strides in explaining how courses will be taught Todayrsquos sample lectures will give way to a more immersive approach enabling potential applicants to take part in the type of teaching and learning they can expect In the US Brown University are now offering a MOOC for school learners to enjoy future learning of STEM subjects and the progressive dSchool at Stanford produce a downloadable lsquoplaybookrsquo to enable school teachers to recreate the classroom experience students can expect Itrsquos all about bringing the experience forward Watch this trend accelerate
4
As both students and employers demand a greater breadth of skills and competencies we will see new ways of accreditation that go beyond the degree certificate itself Already we have universities such as UC Davis launching a badge system to reward learning in team-work presentation skills creativity and the use of social media Itrsquos a trend that taps into the heart of how younger people are playing games and self-educating themselves online As more and more institutions recognise the importance of well rounded skill-sets we will see core curricula embracing a new wave of teaching and recognition
Universities are already wrestling with the challenge of balancing knowledge based learning with practical experience Students in 2024 will undoubtedly have a greater choice in which way they go or how they mix it up This will be supported by the rise of industry led institutions and courses that take education down the route that best suits future needs
We already have a number of BYO (Build Your Own) courses notably in the creative arena Ravensbourne in London offers a postgraduate programme that allows students to select all the components of their study Itrsquos happening in undergraduate engineering courses too with world leading institutions like MIT setting the pace If you want to design your own course in 2024 there will be more opportunities to do so
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written Hyper Island has already thrown out lectures and text books to focus 100 on live practical work often based on briefs from industry partners Innovation-minded companies like Google and Adidas will continue to partner with courses to develop real work for the real world By 2024 this learning style will be much more widespread
Over the next few years students and employers will challenge the relevancy of teaching to a fast changing digitally led modern world Economics students will insist on learning the latest theory and Marketing students will tire of out-of-date case studies from 20 years ago Ben and Jerryrsquos stories will give way to lessons in disruption innovation and co-creation - often drawn from the current environment MITrsquos Openware provides a glimpse of what the future could be like with teaching content flowing in every day wiki-style celebrating an ever changing world
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Campus
Students will expect the best possible value for their money and the next ten years will see Higher Education investment polarise even further On one level we will see more and more shiny buildings and expensively kitted facilities On the other we will see low-cost online offerings and stripped-to-basics campuses to minimise cost We may see more hubs like Central Londonrsquos Makerversity offering the very latest technology such as 4D printers (yes we will go up a dimension) for outsourcing to both universities and students 3
Moscowrsquos Skolkovo Innovation Centre is one of many new style hubs emerging around the world Here start-up businesses mix with research and education to create an almost organic learning experience Then therersquos MediaCityUK in Manchester integrating student education alongside the daily workings of the BBC And watch the emergence of programmes like the Emmerson Accelerator in Boston encouraging students to learn and be mentored whilst setting up their own business
Meanwhile over in Pittsburgh we see a very different development Saxifrege School is on a mission to provide education on a shoe-string - if the local community already has it then use it Here you will find seminars in the local coffee shop and businesses lending facilities - all designed to reduce the cost of education
The Amani Institute could certainly be a trend-setter for the 2024 student experience Focused on world-changing missions rather than subjects here we find flipped weekend classrooms in Nairobi where students discuss the George Washington University MOOC content they have been studying during the week All designed to make a difference to the local environment in Kenya We know that more and more future students will seek out purposeful goals as a backbone to their future education - this is just one of the ways they could feed their ambitions
Minerva University is claiming it can take on the American elite but at a much lower cost Recruiting the brightest students from around the world the aim is to fly them to different global centres to learn together in bursts of activity whilst spending time away learning from the best academics online 2024 should see an abundance of this type of hybrid learning
The University of the Arctic is not really an institution in its own right Itrsquos more a collaboration in teaching and research combining the strengths of institutions to understand this important part of our global infrastructure Future students will warm to this type of education No boundaries more impact3
Innovative hubs are emerging around the world
Cou
rses
The 2024 student will want to know exactly what awaits them in Higher Education Content curation and creation are already bringing the experience to life especially when it comes to a wider campus experience But we will also see bigger strides in explaining how courses will be taught Todayrsquos sample lectures will give way to a more immersive approach enabling potential applicants to take part in the type of teaching and learning they can expect In the US Brown University are now offering a MOOC for school learners to enjoy future learning of STEM subjects and the progressive dSchool at Stanford produce a downloadable lsquoplaybookrsquo to enable school teachers to recreate the classroom experience students can expect Itrsquos all about bringing the experience forward Watch this trend accelerate
4
As both students and employers demand a greater breadth of skills and competencies we will see new ways of accreditation that go beyond the degree certificate itself Already we have universities such as UC Davis launching a badge system to reward learning in team-work presentation skills creativity and the use of social media Itrsquos a trend that taps into the heart of how younger people are playing games and self-educating themselves online As more and more institutions recognise the importance of well rounded skill-sets we will see core curricula embracing a new wave of teaching and recognition
Universities are already wrestling with the challenge of balancing knowledge based learning with practical experience Students in 2024 will undoubtedly have a greater choice in which way they go or how they mix it up This will be supported by the rise of industry led institutions and courses that take education down the route that best suits future needs
We already have a number of BYO (Build Your Own) courses notably in the creative arena Ravensbourne in London offers a postgraduate programme that allows students to select all the components of their study Itrsquos happening in undergraduate engineering courses too with world leading institutions like MIT setting the pace If you want to design your own course in 2024 there will be more opportunities to do so
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written Hyper Island has already thrown out lectures and text books to focus 100 on live practical work often based on briefs from industry partners Innovation-minded companies like Google and Adidas will continue to partner with courses to develop real work for the real world By 2024 this learning style will be much more widespread
Over the next few years students and employers will challenge the relevancy of teaching to a fast changing digitally led modern world Economics students will insist on learning the latest theory and Marketing students will tire of out-of-date case studies from 20 years ago Ben and Jerryrsquos stories will give way to lessons in disruption innovation and co-creation - often drawn from the current environment MITrsquos Openware provides a glimpse of what the future could be like with teaching content flowing in every day wiki-style celebrating an ever changing world
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Moscowrsquos Skolkovo Innovation Centre is one of many new style hubs emerging around the world Here start-up businesses mix with research and education to create an almost organic learning experience Then therersquos MediaCityUK in Manchester integrating student education alongside the daily workings of the BBC And watch the emergence of programmes like the Emmerson Accelerator in Boston encouraging students to learn and be mentored whilst setting up their own business
Meanwhile over in Pittsburgh we see a very different development Saxifrege School is on a mission to provide education on a shoe-string - if the local community already has it then use it Here you will find seminars in the local coffee shop and businesses lending facilities - all designed to reduce the cost of education
The Amani Institute could certainly be a trend-setter for the 2024 student experience Focused on world-changing missions rather than subjects here we find flipped weekend classrooms in Nairobi where students discuss the George Washington University MOOC content they have been studying during the week All designed to make a difference to the local environment in Kenya We know that more and more future students will seek out purposeful goals as a backbone to their future education - this is just one of the ways they could feed their ambitions
Minerva University is claiming it can take on the American elite but at a much lower cost Recruiting the brightest students from around the world the aim is to fly them to different global centres to learn together in bursts of activity whilst spending time away learning from the best academics online 2024 should see an abundance of this type of hybrid learning
The University of the Arctic is not really an institution in its own right Itrsquos more a collaboration in teaching and research combining the strengths of institutions to understand this important part of our global infrastructure Future students will warm to this type of education No boundaries more impact3
Innovative hubs are emerging around the world
Cou
rses
The 2024 student will want to know exactly what awaits them in Higher Education Content curation and creation are already bringing the experience to life especially when it comes to a wider campus experience But we will also see bigger strides in explaining how courses will be taught Todayrsquos sample lectures will give way to a more immersive approach enabling potential applicants to take part in the type of teaching and learning they can expect In the US Brown University are now offering a MOOC for school learners to enjoy future learning of STEM subjects and the progressive dSchool at Stanford produce a downloadable lsquoplaybookrsquo to enable school teachers to recreate the classroom experience students can expect Itrsquos all about bringing the experience forward Watch this trend accelerate
4
As both students and employers demand a greater breadth of skills and competencies we will see new ways of accreditation that go beyond the degree certificate itself Already we have universities such as UC Davis launching a badge system to reward learning in team-work presentation skills creativity and the use of social media Itrsquos a trend that taps into the heart of how younger people are playing games and self-educating themselves online As more and more institutions recognise the importance of well rounded skill-sets we will see core curricula embracing a new wave of teaching and recognition
Universities are already wrestling with the challenge of balancing knowledge based learning with practical experience Students in 2024 will undoubtedly have a greater choice in which way they go or how they mix it up This will be supported by the rise of industry led institutions and courses that take education down the route that best suits future needs
We already have a number of BYO (Build Your Own) courses notably in the creative arena Ravensbourne in London offers a postgraduate programme that allows students to select all the components of their study Itrsquos happening in undergraduate engineering courses too with world leading institutions like MIT setting the pace If you want to design your own course in 2024 there will be more opportunities to do so
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written Hyper Island has already thrown out lectures and text books to focus 100 on live practical work often based on briefs from industry partners Innovation-minded companies like Google and Adidas will continue to partner with courses to develop real work for the real world By 2024 this learning style will be much more widespread
Over the next few years students and employers will challenge the relevancy of teaching to a fast changing digitally led modern world Economics students will insist on learning the latest theory and Marketing students will tire of out-of-date case studies from 20 years ago Ben and Jerryrsquos stories will give way to lessons in disruption innovation and co-creation - often drawn from the current environment MITrsquos Openware provides a glimpse of what the future could be like with teaching content flowing in every day wiki-style celebrating an ever changing world
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Cou
rses
The 2024 student will want to know exactly what awaits them in Higher Education Content curation and creation are already bringing the experience to life especially when it comes to a wider campus experience But we will also see bigger strides in explaining how courses will be taught Todayrsquos sample lectures will give way to a more immersive approach enabling potential applicants to take part in the type of teaching and learning they can expect In the US Brown University are now offering a MOOC for school learners to enjoy future learning of STEM subjects and the progressive dSchool at Stanford produce a downloadable lsquoplaybookrsquo to enable school teachers to recreate the classroom experience students can expect Itrsquos all about bringing the experience forward Watch this trend accelerate
4
As both students and employers demand a greater breadth of skills and competencies we will see new ways of accreditation that go beyond the degree certificate itself Already we have universities such as UC Davis launching a badge system to reward learning in team-work presentation skills creativity and the use of social media Itrsquos a trend that taps into the heart of how younger people are playing games and self-educating themselves online As more and more institutions recognise the importance of well rounded skill-sets we will see core curricula embracing a new wave of teaching and recognition
Universities are already wrestling with the challenge of balancing knowledge based learning with practical experience Students in 2024 will undoubtedly have a greater choice in which way they go or how they mix it up This will be supported by the rise of industry led institutions and courses that take education down the route that best suits future needs
We already have a number of BYO (Build Your Own) courses notably in the creative arena Ravensbourne in London offers a postgraduate programme that allows students to select all the components of their study Itrsquos happening in undergraduate engineering courses too with world leading institutions like MIT setting the pace If you want to design your own course in 2024 there will be more opportunities to do so
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written Hyper Island has already thrown out lectures and text books to focus 100 on live practical work often based on briefs from industry partners Innovation-minded companies like Google and Adidas will continue to partner with courses to develop real work for the real world By 2024 this learning style will be much more widespread
Over the next few years students and employers will challenge the relevancy of teaching to a fast changing digitally led modern world Economics students will insist on learning the latest theory and Marketing students will tire of out-of-date case studies from 20 years ago Ben and Jerryrsquos stories will give way to lessons in disruption innovation and co-creation - often drawn from the current environment MITrsquos Openware provides a glimpse of what the future could be like with teaching content flowing in every day wiki-style celebrating an ever changing world
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
As both students and employers demand a greater breadth of skills and competencies we will see new ways of accreditation that go beyond the degree certificate itself Already we have universities such as UC Davis launching a badge system to reward learning in team-work presentation skills creativity and the use of social media Itrsquos a trend that taps into the heart of how younger people are playing games and self-educating themselves online As more and more institutions recognise the importance of well rounded skill-sets we will see core curricula embracing a new wave of teaching and recognition
Universities are already wrestling with the challenge of balancing knowledge based learning with practical experience Students in 2024 will undoubtedly have a greater choice in which way they go or how they mix it up This will be supported by the rise of industry led institutions and courses that take education down the route that best suits future needs
We already have a number of BYO (Build Your Own) courses notably in the creative arena Ravensbourne in London offers a postgraduate programme that allows students to select all the components of their study Itrsquos happening in undergraduate engineering courses too with world leading institutions like MIT setting the pace If you want to design your own course in 2024 there will be more opportunities to do so
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written Hyper Island has already thrown out lectures and text books to focus 100 on live practical work often based on briefs from industry partners Innovation-minded companies like Google and Adidas will continue to partner with courses to develop real work for the real world By 2024 this learning style will be much more widespread
Over the next few years students and employers will challenge the relevancy of teaching to a fast changing digitally led modern world Economics students will insist on learning the latest theory and Marketing students will tire of out-of-date case studies from 20 years ago Ben and Jerryrsquos stories will give way to lessons in disruption innovation and co-creation - often drawn from the current environment MITrsquos Openware provides a glimpse of what the future could be like with teaching content flowing in every day wiki-style celebrating an ever changing world
The rulebook will continue to get torn up or re-written
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Work
The world of work is undergoing a revolution Many experts talk about a lsquoThird Industrial Revolutionrsquo Artificial Intelligence is finding a life of its own emerging nations are innovating in radical new ways and technology is insisting on complete new blue-prints for doing things Whilst consumer facing brands are already quick to change much larger complex organisations like the UKrsquos NHS are recognising the need to re-purpose invent and innovate much quicker The 3D printers we see now in university labs and the drones flying around campus are just the start The revolution is gathering momentum
5
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Future students will learn to do jobs that donrsquot even exist yet Wersquove recently seen the emergence of Vertical Farmers in big cities Cyber Detectives and even Genetic Designers Check out Mashablersquos own imagination-stretching list In 2024 the world of work will be awash with new job specs At the same time some of our existing jobs will take on a much greater importance Just imagine the growth of the Care industry to help look after an increasingly older population in many parts of the world
People continue to talk about robots taking our jobs And it will keep happening The new self-service checkouts in supermarkets might not look like robots but thatrsquos essentially what they are And theyrsquore replacing humans Perhaps a more striking example is how busy commuters in South Korea are using subway QR walls to do their shopping The trend is everywhere from manufacturing to health care We even have mini robots cleaning our carpets
Google has been particularly vocal about the need for a Science + Art education After all many of their best innovators are creative thinking mathematicians that can dream up big ideas whilst finding algorithms to make them work The thinking has been around for years though Remember Leonardo Da Vinci 2024 Students will seek out this type of blended learning as more and more employers insist upon it
Watch the movies and see the robots flex in their liquid metal The Terminator series is probably the most famous example We might think itrsquos all science fiction But itrsquos already here Ferrous fluids are becoming a key component in many new inventions - they just happen to be hidden from our eyes Along with incredible new substances like Graphene and Silicence they will transform industry and both the research and courses of the future
If yoursquore looking for the poster boy or girl of 2024 industry then 4D printing might be the one Imagine being able to print out materials that can later transform themselves Recent experiments have seen metal strips reacting to water and changing their properties to form cube shapes Fast forward to the future and we may have water pipes under our sinks that will heal over leaks or concrete that will repair itself Again exciting developments like this will have a great impact on both future work and study
Students will learn jobs that donrsquot even exist yet
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
IndustryAs the future working landscape changes so industry will take on a much greater role in education Industry will design courses lead teaching and contribute key elements of a university infrastructure Companies will provide the space and resource as well as expertise Many will develop their own Higher Education ventures too Some will follow the current trend for short online courses video tutorials and thought leadership but others will leap in a much bigger way challenging well established institutions
6
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Companies have owned their own universities before General Motors started theirs in 1926 and GE runs its own campus at Crotonville
Whilst we now look to organisations like Google and Apple creating major institutions themselves Applersquos Chinese competitor Huawei may have stolen a march with its vast university development in ShenzhenWatch for Applersquos next move
Starbucks recently announced that it would pay college fees for workers in the US There are institutions too that now offer guaranteed jobs through their industry partnerships Many future students will look to guarantee their own investment - and Industry will hold the key
JWT are one of the worldrsquos biggest advertising agency networks and are just one of the many organisations taking a keener look at how university courses are developing They have even designed their own course in Dubai Lancaster University have welcomed their own industry partners with Unileverrsquos environmental scientists now teaching 6 week components of degree courses By 2024 the marriage of industry and education will be far stronger and expect to see more courses paying salaries and delivering live work
Look at what Samsung are doing in South Korea and grasp the major role industry could play As a world leading electronics company Samsung have access to some of the very best technology expertise Their After-School Software Clubs have already engaged over 10000 school learners in the future communications world Itrsquos a smart move from both a consumer and employer brand perspective and definitely part of a trend to watch
Perhaps the most interesting development to follow is the growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo Todayrsquos students provide just some insight into what we can expect in 2024 Today we have innovators setting up businesses in university incubators and even halls of residences whilst they study courses Todayrsquos business infrastructure and fast changing technology developments including new currencies (such as Bitcoin)are fueling new transactions and networks Students are more enabled More empowered
There is a growing demand to lsquoearn as you learnrsquo
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Seismic Shifts
The thing with the future is that you just canrsquot predict it You only need to read up on the whole concept of Singularity to get sucked into a world of incredible possibility Just as the future could be unimaginably progressive it could equally be far more dysfunctional The expected fuel crisis increased food shortages and potential water wars should keep our feet firmly on the ground We know just how unstable the world is and the dystopia portrayed in many of the trending teen films (think Hunger Games) may not be as far-fetched as we first think This report is not driven by futurology Itrsquos simply based on what is emerging right now - giving a view of key trends that are most likely to go mainstream Some of them really are quite seismic in their impact
7Universities will tap into the mission-driven mindset
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Have a look at Stanfordrsquos view of future education in their 2025 Project One of their key observations is that Higher Education could morph into an open-loop system with students dipping in and out at key moments of their lives This idea is already gathering momentum and could well be one of the really big shifts to watch out for After all there is a lot of sense in the idea of paying for education when you really need it not splashing everything out on the three years after school - especially for those who are unsure of what they want to do The student of 2024 may well want to hold back some investment for a few years into a career to up-skill or change jobs MBA providers are already adapting to meet this kind of need Undergraduate courses could follow suit
Whilst Industry gets more involved in Higher Education often leading the way watch out for changes in how alumni are embraced by institutions Donations will continue to be important but many former students may also want to take on the Populi role rolling their sleeves up helping with practical work or running seminars
The lsquoflippedrsquo classroom is already in vogue Our future 2024 students are living the trend now - as nine year olds learning how to lsquoloomrsquo online then sit with friends to making their wrist bands together Some are even experiencing the lsquoflippedrsquo experience in their schools with teachers encouraging them to read the theory and watch the videos at home to prepare for a more practical-orientated lesson This action based learning will stay with our new generation and will be an important influence on how they want to study in eight years time
More universities will bethinking like the big brands out there Just as Virgin or Tesco focus on product extensions and consumer loyalty so institutions will look to develop their own new opportunities This will include more lsquocradle-to-graversquo thinking and will reach out into new education areas that could support students throughout their lives Todayrsquos parents and children are well attuned to this approach and may be quite receptive to the idea
Many younger people are aware of the huge challenges we face to make the world a fair and sustainable place to live Thatrsquos why many are now adopting their own lsquomissionsrsquo From challenges to rethink what we eat to competitions to solve the energy crisis Social Media is alive with student-led campaigns to create awareness to innovate and to protest Universities will tap into this mission-driven mindset to create learning experiences that are more purposeful and offer the opportunity for students to make a real difference to their environment
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Edtech
One thing for certain is that 2024 will be tech crazy Once wersquove come to terms with Applersquos new iWatch drawing health data from our own wrists we can try and get our heads around the future Once wersquove seen just what the promoters of Game of Thrones did with Oculus Rift augmented reality headsets to bring their mythical world to life then we might get some glimpse of what will be possible in 2024
Right now students are wired into technology They are virtuoso gamers with many completing the required 10000 hours of investment to be truly world-class Some are coders and inventors Many are not phased by the power of social technology Theyrsquove simply grown up with it Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for Higher Education is not just in setting the technology pace but in keeping up with it
Students are already wired into technology
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Drones are being used to map terrain for geography students in Spain A few are helping out on Open Days There is an element of show-boating too - some institutions have confessed to simply finding a way to spend some money that needed spending However there is also a growing recognition that airborne technology like this will contribute to a whole range of subject study in the future
There are teachers out there who run lectures with the help of Twitter Students hashtag questions and comments to a large screen the lecturer responds accordingly Done properly itrsquos a great idea and any developments that allow wider participation in class are probably worthwhile By 2024 students will be lsquowearingrsquo their technology more and in order to imagine the learning possibilities you really need to think about discreet in-ear in-eye or on-arm devices
Businesses around the world are currently tackling the challenge of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) The positives are quite simple BYOD enables extra working from home greater access and efficiency Itrsquos key to the new lsquoelasticrsquo generation of work-forces However the flip side is that organisations often have to sacrifice the security in hosting everything within their own systems The BYOD trend is emerging in schools too with students using their own smart phones and tablets in lessons By 2024 BYOD will probably be embraced by all especially across campuses The trick might be finding it though with some hidden gesture-based technology already making its way on to arms around the world
Augmented Reality (AR) is being touted as a key player in our future entertainment industry Who wouldnrsquot want to put a headset on and see the world as if they were in their favourite film or watching their musical heroes on stage Future education provides exciting opportunities too We already have AR being used in Medical Schools to enable practice surgery and also in labs to watch explosive experiments There are few boundaries Fancy studying the Brazilian rainforest from the UK Simply put the headset on and see yourself there Welcome to the future
In 2014 people have already experienced 4D cinema Thatrsquos when water is sprayed out over seats (which also move) allowing the audience to watch see and even feel the action Technology is enabling touch-activated posters to play music or release smells Our senses are being put into virtual overdrive By 2024 will university Open Days mess with them even further
8
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Rockstars9In the Netherlands we are seeing the very best teaching professors take the stage to
share their knowledge with anyone that wants to listen Everything is broadcast online which means you can watch and learn from around the world Itrsquos similar to the familiar rise of TEDx and TEDed but here students can actually vote on who takes the stage the following week Has the lecture had been shaken up by reality TV By 2024 we will have a generation that have grown up with the X-Factor idea To vote for and watch their favourite academics will seem rather normal
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
You only have to look at the popularity of Professor Brian Cox in the UK (14m Twitter followers) to understand the influence an engaging teacher can have If he really is one of the best people to teach Particle Physics then understandably students will seek him out If hersquos on TV on You Tube or one day as hologram on a desk then students will tune in Perhaps this is the dawn of the Superstar Professor Perhaps we are going to see a whirlwind of rockstar-style personal-brand building and global tours Interestingly Professor Cox really was a rock star reaching the heights of the UK charts before protons propelled him back into Academia
The TEDx stage has educated millions of people around the world Some of the most interesting and engaging speakers have taken their eighteen minutes to captivate knowledge seekers everywhere Our 2024 students will be used to this idea They will expect to see the future thought-leaders and change-makers on their screens Perhaps educators may start awarding credits and badges for those who take the time to watch
Whilst some of todayrsquos professionals continue to sign up for further development with business schools and universities many are also exploring the wealth of education online Nobody would claim that the Fast Company led lsquo30 Second MBArsquo is a substitute for the real thing but its quick video insights from business leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg can have their own significant value By 2024 students will expect short tasters of courses that they might sign up to Bite-sized knowledge is here to stay
We are already seeing robots in the classroom In Birmingham Nao is helping explore how technology can educate children with special needs Advances like this could enable some children on the autistic spectrum to participate and achieve more Itrsquos just one of many examples of how robots could take a role in teaching and learning
We donrsquot have to wait for the future to witness a robotic class-room teacher The jury is certainly out on this one but you can see for yourself by checking out Tokyorsquos Saya in action back in 2009 courtesy of YouTube
We are already seeing robots in classrooms
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
GlobalStudents
Therersquos no doubt that the world feels smaller Satellites fibre-optic cable mobile phone masts and even hot-air balloons are combining to connect conversations share news and foster new relationships Young people around the world are playing each other on the X-Box sharing hair-style tutorials on You Tube throwing ice-buckets debating politics and embarking on environmental challenges to solve the big problems ahead
The impact on education is already massive Virtual classrooms are shared by global audiences emerging nations send students abroad and hybrid style universities bring MOOC learning to villages in Africa The next ten years will see even bigger shifts And whilst the future reality is unclear and at the mercy of some major economic cultural and religious instability one thing is for certain - the world will feel even smaller
10
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
Todayrsquos students can band together like never before This is a generation that has grown up with hand-held video streams of the Libyan revolution tweets from Egyptian protests and live footage of London riots They feel much more connected to the world than older generations can imagine The biggest enabler is of course Social Media Younger people will keep talking around the world By 2024 the world will feel even smaller
Donrsquot underestimate the significant language shifts we are seeing Emoticons and pictures are now flooding texts and IMs A powerful new visual dimension is joining in Itrsquos possible to hold a conversation using just a series of images Alongside generic social media language such as LOL and Hollywood fueled global slang we are seeing new possibilities in how people can instantly connect regardless of their formal language skills Cohorts of 2024 students are likely to integrate in international groups even better than they do now Institutions will somehow have to keep up with the language
By 2024 the lsquoCloudrsquo could have expanded beyond our imagination Students may have foregone tangible ownership storing many possessions in the cyber world Itrsquos an interesting idea especially as this could enable even more global sharing However there could equally be a significant push back against this Future students may rediscover an appetite to own books magazines and music Witness the incredible revival of vinyl music as younger people discover the pleasure of having their own proper record collection (even at a premium) They may also object to the security threat the Cloud could pose And of course the Cloud could burst The future isnrsquot that clear
Hollywood knows that to have a global box office hit they have to include China China still restricts the amount of foreign films allowed into its cinemas and so film-makers are increasingly including Chinese content in their movies (especially where China looks good or even saves the day) Iron Man 3 is a good example of how major US studios have now partnered with Chinese counterparts to delight a bigger global audience Our 2024 students will be used to seeing this much bigger picture
In 2014 eight year olds are marking calendars and setting alarms for their next YouTube tutorial uploads They are gathering around smart screens and learning from others of the same age in different countries The focus is usually Loom Bands fashion Minecraft and gaming The message is a big one This is the Higher Education student of 2024 Just watch them go
We are seeing significant language shifts
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy
wwwthestudentroomcoukhellothestudentroomcom
tsrmatters
The Student Room GroupInternational HouseQueens RoadBrightonBN1 3XE
Wersquod like to thank Creative Commons and Google for sharing many of the images wersquove used and to acknowledge invaluable sources All of the content we refer to is in the public domain and available online In most cases we havenrsquot generated the articles Wersquove explored a sea of information and simply highlighted the stories we think you should know about signposting you to the original pages so you can discover more We apologise if a link or two no longer works but the sea of information on the web ebbs and flows all the time
P O W E R E D B Y
Thanks for sharing our snapshot of the futureAnd donrsquot forget you can click on the highlighted links to open up the bigger picture Everything you have read about is happening to a degree already but no doubt there will be a lot more to come At The Student Room we will continue to embrace the future We canrsquot avoid it - our users demand it Every month another 40000 young people register with us posting 15000 times a day and taking part in tens of thousands of conversations 247 They help shape what we do how we do it and we reflect and adapt ourselves to their world If you want us to help you get closer to the action then please let us know Remember that whilst we canrsquot predict the 2024 landscape we can do our best to picture it Good luck and enjoy