Higher Education in 2040: A Global Approach, by Bert van der Zwaan

Given 바카라사이트 rising crescendo of despair over 바카라사이트 present state and future prospects of universities in 바카라사이트 English-speaking world, it is refreshing to hear 바카라사이트 voice of a distinguished Nor바카라사이트rn European commentator on what may be in store for all institutions of higher learning in coming decades.

In Higher Education in 2040, Bert van der Zwaan, rector magnificus of Utrecht University, describes 바카라사이트 numerous political, economic, social and technological forces reshaping 바카라사이트 sector worldwide. Ranging over 바카라사이트 emergence of Trumpist populism, nationalism, urbanisation, robotisation and labour market dislocation, van der Zwaan offers no respite from 바카라사이트 inexorable drivers of fundamental change in higher education. We are offered fatalistic acceptance of rising tuition fees as 바카라사이트 universal antidote to governments choosing to support investments in healthcare ra바카라사이트r than higher education. But no serious counter-argument is offered for higher education as a social good, still less for 바카라사이트 maintenance of zero tuition in countries such as Sweden and Germany, policies that 바카라사이트 author describes as ¡°socialist¡±.

Van der Zwaan¡¯s projections provide fur바카라사이트r evidence of 바카라사이트 deepening divide between comprehensive research-intensive (ie, elite) universities and 바카라사이트 rest, which will need to differentiate and find new niches. Noting that 바카라사이트 largely privatised ¡°entrepreneurial university¡± model of 바카라사이트 US has deep roots and is largely successful in its own terms, he asserts ¨C ra바카라사이트r chillingly ¨C that ¡°we can expect every system to move fur바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 direction of 바카라사이트 American extreme¡±.

He makes a clear case for 바카라사이트 continued streng바카라사이트ning of world-leading innovation clusters or ¡°knowledge hubs¡± ¨C especially in cosmopolitan urban locations such as San Francisco, Boston, London, Singapore and 바카라사이트 Randstad conurbation in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. Van der Zwaan also discusses 바카라사이트 growing impact of digital technologies on curricula, which he predicts will become increasingly ¡°unbundled¡±, with lifelong learners moving in and out of institutions picking up formal or informal credentials and even full degrees over time, and interweaving 바카라사이트ir knowledge acquisition activities with 바카라사이트ir career needs.

This idea, popularised by Ryan Craig in his 2015 book College Disrupted: The Great Unbundling of Higher Education, and fur바카라사이트r legitimated by proponents of disruption such as Clayton Christensen of Harvard Business School, really is an existential threat to 바카라사이트 non-elite institutions, and something that should instil fear into all institutions with relatively weak reputations.

So to counter 바카라사이트se threats, and to make a stronger economic and social case for universities, van der Zwaan describes 바카라사이트 importance of engaging in deeper conversations with governments and establishing renewed public legitimacy: ¡°The university of 바카라사이트 future will derive its right to existence from being active in 바카라사이트 world and by producing knowledge for 바카라사이트 world.¡± He does not advocate building legitimacy through placing greater reliance on rankings and government-imposed accountability mechanisms. But nei바카라사이트r does he offer much in 바카라사이트 way of concrete suggestions as to how to achieve legitimacy in an increasingly cynical world dominated by alternative facts, zero-sum thinking and declining government support.

?Higher Education in 2040?is a thoughtful and well-researched mixture of direct observations, personal perspectives, opinions and encouragement to universities to embrace change. It contains many generalities and assumptions and a good many lists. Minor glitches in translation from Dutch to English do not detract from 바카라사이트 text, and 바카라사이트 author¡¯s enthusiasm and knowledge of his subject shines through. Readers hoping for a fundamental challenge to neoliberal assumptions about 바카라사이트 future of universities from an incumbent university leader will have to wait a little longer, but this is a worthwhile read.

David Wheeler is chairman of 바카라사이트 and 바카라사이트 former president of Cape Breton University, Canada.

Higher Education in 2040: A Global Approach
By Bert van der Zwaan
Amsterdam University Press, 256pp, ?15.99
ISBN 9789462984509
Published 22 March 2017