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Future of Education
Future of Education
Wednesday, 13 July 2016: 14:15-15:45
Location: Hörsaal 34 (Main Building)
RC07 Futures Research (host committee) Language: English
In our rapidly changing societies tertiary education is faced with different, often interrelated challenges. On the one hand, social factors affect its significance, such as losing its traditional social and economic roles, the accelerating and often abrupt nature of social changes and the uncertainty as a natural consequence of these changes. These social transformations seem to devalue professional bodies of knowledge in contrast to generalized skill sets. On the other hand, our new technological environment also deeply influences educational spaces and practices. Phenomena such as students’ different style of information processing and altered concentration span, the omnipresence of information and communication technologies, as well as the appearance of new, digital forms of learning and teaching (like MOOCs) all challenge educational patterns and the established routines of both lecturers and management staff.
In relation to these aspects, a diverse and widespread discourse emerged from the feeling of an ongoing severe role change in order to identify new functions and practices for higher education. This session aims to contribute to this discourse through exploring the future trends of higher education. Session organisers will welcome contributions from anyone who has an interest in the following topics:
- Theoretical studies dealing with the current trends of higher education and their impact on institutions and individual actors.
- Empirical studies aiming to explore new types of inequalities, future visions of or new paths for higher education.
- Case studies discussing new forms of learning and teaching, which address contemporary or future challenges of higher education.
Session Organizers: