What will Higher Education Look like in 2020?

Since the world around us is changing at a breakneck pace constantly, higher education is faced with the challenge of keeping up with these changes. The goal of education is to equip students with the skills and knowledge that can help them deal with real-life situations. Higher education is considered crucial for a good career. It sets the tone for the professional life of an individual. This is why people borrow an education loan to fund their or their kids’ higher education, they save and invest and they spend a lot of time researching about the best educational routes and opportunities in the country and abroad.

The way higher education serves this purpose has changed, and here we enlist what higher education will look like in 2020:

Emphasis on learning rather than a degree

If you appear for a job interview today, chances are that you will be judged on your knowledge, irrespective of the degrees you hold. In light of this trend, unconventional learning programmes and curricula are being designed by universities that provide short-term and flexible training modules. Many Ivy leagues institutions abroad and premier institutes in India are already running batches that offer short ‘degrees’, professional certifications or experiential learning courses in collaboration with workplaces and just-in-time learning like boot camps in partnership with corporates. This signals a shift towards a more ‘competency-led’ workplace than ‘degree-based’ credentials.

Increased use of data and analytics

An increasingly prominent trend in all fields is the use of data and analytics to make better decisions and offer better services or products. One such application of data sciences is on the analytics of online data about students. It is hoped that the learning experience of students in the higher education sector can be optimized and improved by using insights from such data.

Meticulous and granular assessment of students

One of the most transformative changes brought about by technology in the education ecosystem has been the invasion of software tools and online systems into the curriculum and assessment. Not only do these tools help make the teaching process more effective through audio-visual support, but technology is also revolutionizing the way students’ performance is assessed. AI technology is already being used in the hiring and recruitment process for shortlisting candidates; it is now finding its application in student assessment.

Technology support for self-paced learning

Another gift of technology to the educational ecosystem is the possibility of self-paced learning. Online courses and modules, including for postgraduate courses and research degrees in many universities allow students to learn at their own pace. Just like massive open online courses (MOOCs), these courses have modules, assessments as well as assignments online.

Global universities are coming up with more than just certification programs – there are options for enrolling in postgraduate courses online. Students can learn from recorded lectures, participate in live chat and interact with the course instructors. Even if you think these degrees are expensive, they reap commensurate benefits in the long run. So start exploring your funding options, including your education loan eligibility.

For competitive interest rates and zero collateral needed, you can opt for a personal loan for education on Finserv MARKETS. The process to do so is simple, speedy and completely transparent. All you need to do is furnish the documents required for an education loan and you can borrow up to INR 25 lakh.

Preparing for job-readiness

Deloitte’s report commented on the future of higher education in India in terms of the employability parameter. It is a crooked idea that there is so much focus on getting a job at the end of a degree that actual learning and career sustainability takes a backseat. The report mentions, ‘Students, who put in four years of learning, are, after all, justified in expecting to be employed at the end of it. On the other hand, a sole focus on employment could diminish the focus on learning.’

In 2020 and beyond, the higher education sector is predicted to take cognizance of the fact that job-readiness should not come at the expense of actual learning. This is why educational institutions are also launching incubator programmes for those with a business idea of their own.

Even as the face of higher education changes and evolves, the cost of quality education can still appear as a threat to access for many students. If you are planning to advance your career and professional skills through such opportunities, you can seek refuge in a personal loan for education. On Finserv MARKETS, you can easily check your education loan eligibility and fulfill your dreams!