News and Insights
Change on College Campuses – It’s Not What You Think
August 29, 2024
A Q&A with Nuno Fernandes, President, American Public University System
As we’re deluged with daily news about political protests on college campuses, it’s easy to think nothing has changed at many universities. While that may be accurate to an extent, it’s hardly an indicator of what lies ahead.
According to Nuno Fernandes, President of the American Public University System (APUS), higher education will change more in the next 30 years than it did in the last millennium, as AI is emerging to augment and transform teaching and learning methods. And as AI and other technologies continue to be integrated into society, institutions have an opportunity to revolutionize the educational landscape – to offer more personalized, adaptive, and interactive learning experiences that go beyond traditional paradigms.
These innovations will spark ethical dilemmas that demand careful consideration, in education and beyond.
Q. What do you see as the future of education?
The time for transformation is now. New technologies offer incredible opportunities for education – and it’s something students are open to and want to see as part of their educational experience.
Overall, I envision an educational environment where communication transcends the physical realm, fostering a deeper level of understanding; where incredible advances in AI pave the way for educational experiences that incorporate cybernetic enhancements, virtual realities and collective intelligence.
But these changes won’t happen overnight. And yes, there will be challenges, as we are currently seeing with the introduction of AI, across industries and society. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pursue the opportunity that lies before us.
It is on us as academic leaders to embrace the change, to encourage AI’s adoption ethically and responsibly. It is on us to be aspirational, to imagine a brighter future in higher education; to harness remarkable advances in technology to revolutionize education
Q: How are some new technologies being integrated into the classroom?
Already we are seeing virtual and augmented realities being integrated in the learning environment.
For example, retinal objects such as virtual reality (VR) contact lenses allow students to interact with simulations, historical events, or abstract concepts without the need for any external device. Through Holographics or AI-driven experiences, students can sit in Independence Hall to see the signing of the Declaration of Independence, virtually dissect a frog on even a microscopic level or have an “AI Albert Einstein” explain e = MC2.
Further, with VR, learning has become truly international, fostering global collaboration and transformative cultural exchange. No more travel restrictions, visa hassles, or time-zone headaches! Students and faculty sit together in the same virtual classroom and interact dynamically. Within 30 years, I believe holodeck-like technology coupled with advanced space technology could expand this to make the cosmos your classroom and allow for all kinds of interstellar field trips.
Q: How else do you see technologies changing student experiences in the next 30 years?
It’s not hard to believe that new innovations will pave the way for educational experiences unlike anything else we have seen to date. And while these examples may be more futuristic, here are five ways I envision our students’ experiences will be drastically different:
1. Personalized AI Tutors: By 2054, each student will have their own AI-powered personal tutor that adapts the curriculum in real-time. Forget the one-size-fits-all curriculum. AI tutors can analyze strengths, weaknesses, and learning pace, generating personalized study plans and adaptive quizzes. Students will progress at their own pace. The tutor could even be a mentor, and provide immediate feedback, adjusting explanations and activities based on mistakes and breakthroughs.
2. Brain–Computer Interface and Instantaneous Knowledge: Instead of transferring knowledge, faculty will provide guidance. Neural interfaces will link directly to the brain, downloading information and skills instantly. The concept suggests that with neural interfaces, individuals could rapidly acquire new languages by directly downloading linguistic information into the brain.
3. Quantum Computing: No more head-scratching over complex equations. Superpowered quantum computers will tackle previously unsolvable problems, from designing new medicines to optimizing traffic flow, while students ride the wave of discovery.
Instead of grappling with complex simulations for science or medicine discovery, students can simply upload queries to the quantum cloud. Within seconds, they receive insights into material properties or potential medicine candidates. This goes far beyond crunching numbers – it has profound implications across physics, chemistry, and mathematics, and beyond.
4. Telepathic Collaboration: This truly revolutionary concept envisions a world where sharing ideas and information transcends conventional communication methods, allowing direct mental communication. Advanced communication technologies will allow students and faculty to collaborate telepathically, sharing ideas and information without the need for external devices. Collaborative learning will reach a whole new level of understanding and empathy.
5. Global Mega Universities: With the advent of online education years ago, futurist Clayton Christensen predicted that up to 50 percent of the universities would go out of business. He was wrong about the timing, but I think he was correct about the concept. Fewer universities will exist, and many will no longer be local or regional brands in 30 years. Mega universities will emerge, serving hundreds of thousands of students globally. Smaller universities that fail to differentiate themselves, or do not cater to a specific niche, will likely struggle, or shutter.
Global students attending these mega universities will be enrolled in the same cohort. Students in New York, Paris, and Nairobi will have content and interactions in real-time, in the language of their choice.
Q: So, are you hopeful about the future?
It’s exhilarating to be leading a university today. We can harness remarkable advances in technology to revolutionize education. We have an opportunity to embrace change at a pace and scale we’ve never seen before. We can lead the way to a luminous and aspirational future for education.
It’s time to imagine—and create—a brighter future in higher education. It’s well-past the time for transformation.
POSTED BY: Celia Jones
