ON CAMPUS
campusreview.com.au
Ditch uni degrees?
An education forum recently debated the future
of the tertiary sector and what universities need
to do to survive in a global marketplace.
By Kirstie Chlopicki
K
ey players in the education industry have collaborated
on their second “Deep Dive” session, and are leading
discussions on the future of Australia’s tertiary institutions
and workforce.
Facilitated by Austrade, Cahoot Learning International, DeakinCo
and General Assembly, the event brought together education
providers, edtech companies and industry associations to address
the most pressing challenges in education.
MIT executive director of professional education Bhaskar
Pant presented his findings as the first panellist, and focused on
the need for collaboration, the rise of short courses or micro-
qualifications and their increasing value in the workforce.
Of particular note, Pant mentioned a number of new specialised
courses in modern topics from innovation, technology and artificial
intelligence, to machine learning, system engineering, data science
and leadership.
Accessible online, acting as a pathway to a master’s degree,
and already undertaken by staff across Australia, Pant believes
such short courses could be essential in upskilling the
nation’s workforce, and may eventually replace the traditional
university degree.
“We live in an international world which is truly a global village,
and we’re talking about credentials here that didn’t previously
exist,” he said.
“No longer should you have to have a four-year degree to be
qualified for something – you can get a micro-qualification which
shows you have specific knowledge.
“It’s not the value of university that’s declined, it’s the way we
deliver education that’s up for discussion.
“We’ve recognised there is a significant opportunity to
crowdsource solutions, and we know there will be a rise in online
communities and new opportunities for peer-to-peer instruction
rather than traditional learning.”
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Pant also spoke of the importance of “breaking down the silos”
and facilitating more collaboration between university faculties
and disciplines to effectively adapt to the changing times.
“Next door someone is doing something complementary
to what you are doing and you should know about it; don’t
wait until you go to a conference to meet them and have a
discussion,” he said.
“We should be looking at more communication with industry,
and delivery of opportunities for continuous learning.
“We need to focus on education needs in the context of what’s
needed in the workforce of tomorrow, which is almost today.”
Austrade chief executive Dr Stephanie Fahey also addressed
industry leaders at the seminar.
“We’re thinking about how to make education more accessible
and continuous, and how we can upskill our citizens and share
that strategy across the pacific,” she said.
“There are many moving parts in the education sector, and we
need to be agile, prepared and globally collaborative.
“Millennials are also wanting education anywhere anytime, and
we know a lot of people are reluctant to go to campus.
“Students are starting to lead their own learning, so the higher
education sector in Australia is being disrupted very quickly.
“How do Australian institutions compete with a brand like MIT
that’s globalising? We need to collaborate.”
Fahey also touched on the evolution of international education.
“The educational institution has been com