The Educator Magazine U.K. Jan-April 2025 issue - Magazine - Page 40
What Does 2025 Have in Store
for Higher Education in EMEA?
The higher education sector across EMEA has weathered
much change in recent times and is still navigating a
period of transformation. Technology and automation
are reshaping the job market; skills creation is battling to
keep up and universities are exploring ways to equip their
students for the workplace. Tuition fee changes in the UK
and elsewhere, together with funding constraints, have
added to pressures on higher education institutions (HEIs),
prompting them to look at ways they could diversify their
revenue streams.
Against this backdrop, what will 2025 bring? Here, we
consider two key challenges and opportunities for HEIs in
regions across EMEA. For a deeper dive into this, you can
explore D2L’s full blog.
Challenges
Opportunities
1. Micro-Credentials for Lifelong Learning,
Upskilling and Revenue Generation
There is growing demand for lifelong learning and skillsbased education. HEIs can take advantage of this by
offering micro-credentials, short courses and professional
development programmes tailored to the needs of working
professionals.
Micro-credentials offer a flexible and scalable approach
to learning. They have clear learning outcomes to help
learners achieve a range of learning goals. Successful
students earn a microcredential badge, which signifies they
have achieved specific competencies. The badge is verified
by the issuing institution, and learners can share it across
platforms such as digital portfolios and social media.
1. Financial Pressures and Budget Constraints
Declining public funding, fluctuations in tuition fees
and increased funding competition place HEIs under
considerable financial pressure around the region. In
Ireland, for example, funding is the biggest issue facing
universities with the student contribution Irish students
pay scheduled to reduce by €1,000 a year in the new
academic year. There have been calls for an increase in
core funding and suggestions that funding shortfalls make
it difficult for Irish universities to compete internationally.
2. Technological Advances
AI is the latest innovation, and it provokes as much mistrust
as it does excitement. It is now used more and more in
universities but educators’ concerns about the potential
for cheating remain. Despite this, students’ expectations
are growing. According to insight from Jisc in the UK,
students/learners in further and higher education expect,
“educators to be able to use genAI competently, to
comprehensively integrate genAI across education, and
to implement policy to ensure fair and effective use.”
The pressure is therefore on for institutions to adapt to
technological change and use digital tools to their best
advantage to benefit students and tutors.
This study format can help make higher education more
accessible and enable part-time learners to acquire
specific skills quickly and affordably.
2. AI and Digital Transformation
In 2025, educators can use AI to enhance human-centric
learning and take advantage of its timesaving benefits.
AI can help reduce the burden of repetitive, manual tasks,
and at the same time elevate courses to deliver dynamic
learning experiences. It can analyse large data sets to
provide insights into student progress and help identify
those who may need help. As educators’ time continues
to be a limiting factor in 2025, AI can help HEIs create
high-quality learning experiences, increase student
engagement and save time.
What Is Your Higher Education
Digital Strategy in 2025?
As you hone your 2025 strategy, why not talk
to D2L about your plans? Take a look at our
LMS for colleges and universities.
