Working Groups

Brief Description

We are living in a critical time for the field of higher education, as traditional HE institutions are facing significant challenges due to negative demographic trends and unsustainable cost increases, combined with the emerging of alternatives made possible by developments in digital technologies and new market entrances (such as for-profit online universities). The growth of online education, and the advent of the MOOCs in particular, have been accompanied by predictions that these will prove to be disruptive technologies for higher education, leading to a radical transformation of the field – similar to what has happened in most industries, as well as fields such as photography and music. This prediction has not been realized – yet! Why is this the case? What key forces are causing resistance to adopting radical technology-rich innovations in higher education, both on the supply side (HE institutions) and the demand side (prospective students and their “influencers”)? What are examples of radical technology-rich innovations in higher education, and what can we learn from those experiments? How are digital technologies changing traditional HE institutions, even if not in the “radical way” it was originally predicted? To address these questions, we have put together an interdisciplinary team that brings combined expertise in higher education, business, entrepreneurship and pedagogy.

Key accomplishments to date

• Panel presentation at the October 2019 LiDA Colloquium Series, entitled
• Panel presentation entitled “Are universities immune to disruptive technology innovations? Looking at failed predictions from multidisciplinary perspectives“ - Online Learning 2019: Global Summit & EdTech Expo, October 8-10, 2019, Toronto, Canada.

Links for More Information

• Are universities immune to disruptive technology innovations? Looking at failed predictions from multidisciplinary perspectives