Avalanche of change’ will be threat to universities

Universities could be engulfed by an ‘avalanche of change’ if they are not bold or forward thinking enough, an expert has claimed. With competition growing globally and the rise of massive open online courses, or MOOCs, even red brick institutions could be under threat if they fail to find their niche, states a report by Sir Michael Barber says.
‘It could be a golden age ahead, but the big risks are timidity and risk aversion, it’s definitely a time for bold thinking,’ Tony Blair’s former adviser said.
‘The traditional multipurpose university with a combination of a range of degrees and a modestly effective research programme has had its day.’
Complacency over the next decade could be fatal as the free MOOCs grow ever popular, while technology changes and greater student expectations increase the pressure to diversify and perform, the report for IPPR argued. Read more...