Universities 'must adapt or die'

Some universities could find themselves under threat in the next decade if they fail to keep up with a coming "avalanche'' of change, a report has warned.  Even elite institutions could find themselves at risk, said Sir Michael Barber, a former adviser to Tony Blair, in An Avalanche Is Coming, a study for the think tank IPPR.
Pressure on universities is greater than ever, he said, due to global competition as well as open online courses and consultancies. Sir Michael warned that while the next 50 years could be a "golden age" for higher education, "the ordinary red brick, one town university that just ticks over as it did at the second half of the 20th century will really suffer".
Universities that fail to find their niche, and are complacent about their current position, could find they are left behind, the report warned. Read more...