Higher education has been a powerful tool for social, economic and cultural mobility in countries. However, in recent years, there has been a decline in enrollment in higher education. This problem has been a challenge for many educational institutions around the world, which raises the question: how can we address this problem and continue to make higher education the best tool for social, economic and cultural mobility?
According to a report by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, in 2019, the gross enrollment rate in higher education globally was 38%, indicating that only a fraction of the world’s population has access to higher education. In some countries, the enrollment rate in tertiary education is much lower. For example, in low-income countries, the enrollment rate is only 9%. Moreover, even in countries where higher education is more accessible, there has been a decline in enrollment in recent years, although it may appear otherwise at first glance.
The decline in enrollment in higher education has been attributed to several factors. One of the most important is the skills gap. Many students are not adequately prepared for the demands of higher education and lack the skills necessary to succeed at this level. This is often due to lack of access to quality education at earlier levels, which has led to a significant skills gap.
In addition to the skills gap, there are other factors that may be contributing to declining enrollment in higher education. These include rising tuition costs, lack of diversity in institutions, and lack of employment opportunities for graduates, who face an increasingly competitive work environment.
To address the problem of declining enrollment in higher education, it is important that we rethink admissions systems, both at the undergraduate level and with a special focus on continuing education. Current admissions systems are based on old paradigms and are not designed to address the skills gap and other factors that are contributing to declining enrollment and, therefore, leaving many people out of the opportunities for social and economic mobility that higher education provides.
One way to address this problem is by modernizing admissions systems and considering the existing skills gap. This can include the use of more innovative assessment tools, such as competency-based assessments. These tools can help identify the skills and knowledge students need to succeed in higher education and can help students close the skills gap.
In addition to modernizing admissions systems, it is also important that we consider the importance of a triple-impact edtech innovation model. This model focuses on the use of technology to improve education and create a positive impact on institutions, students and employers, understanding the systemic need to connect these three actors synchronously, to meet the challenges of today’s society.
This edtech innovation model can include the implementation of more innovative teaching and learning tools, such as gamification and project-based learning. These tools can help students develop practical and applicable real-world skills, which will increase their employability and give them a competitive edge in the job market.
In addition, the triple-impact edtech innovation model can also help higher education institutions improve efficiency and effectiveness in education delivery. For example, the implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools can help institutions identify areas where students need additional help and provide personalized resources to help students succeed.
Finally, the triple-impact edtech innovation model can also benefit employers by providing them with a highly skilled workforce trained in the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy.
Importantly, this triple-impact edtech innovation model not only benefits higher education institutions and employers, but also benefits students. By providing students with innovative tools and resources, they are provided with a more engaging and meaningful learning experience that prepares them for success in the real world.
Finally, we must not forget that higher education remains the best tool for social, economic and cultural mobility in countries, but declining enrollment in higher education is a problem that needs to be addressed. The skills gap, the rising costs of higher education and the lack of employment opportunities for graduates are some of the factors contributing to this problem. To address it, it is important that we rethink higher education admission systems, modernizing and changing old paradigms and considering the existing skills gap, with an active commitment to narrowing it to open up new opportunities for people’s well-being and development.
It is also important the implementation of a triple impact edtech innovation model, in which institutions, students and employers win, allowing to bring these three key players closer for the development of societies and the welfare of all people.
With the implementation of these innovative solutions, we can make higher education more accessible and relevant for all students, and thus continue to be a powerful tool for social, economic and cultural mobility in countries.