Trends

Students are increasingly likely to demand the best choice, value and quality. Good or bad they will review and share their learning experiences with the world.

Research funding is increasingly scarce while competition has intensified. Teaching and research also need greater synergy with research firmly embedded into the curriculum.

Global student mobility will continue to deliver benefits and new competitive pressures. New opportunities and challenges will emerge as China and other nations invest in their universities.

Fees and caps will continue to change while funding will be increasingly linked to performance with incentives focused on the most in-demand subjects and challenges. The size of the student market will also fluctuate. More students will design their own education portfolios, mixing institutions and online and offline learning courses. While others will take different learning paths, as they discover new opportunities with employers, take advantage of social and business networks, and make the most of a new wave of internships and global experiences.

In just 90 years the global population has exploded from two billion to seven billion. A further one billion people are predicted to live on the planet by 2030. More people are going hungry. We’ve less agricultural land than ever before. The world needs new ideas to cope with the growing pressures on food production, agriculture and supply chains.

Improvements in healthcare, diet, lifestyle and personal medicine mean people are now living longer. 10 million people aged over 65 currently live in the UK. This is set to grow by 50 per cent over the next 20 years. The implications are massive, not only for healthcare, public services, spending, taxation and pensions - but also for education.

The move from carbon-based energy to renewable energy sources and low-carbon living is at the heart of economic and technological change. Our climate is changing. We need to play a major role in technological innovation, helping people to adapt to social change and new ways of living.

Globalisation. Megacities. New forms of connectivity and mobility. The world is getting smaller and more interconnected. How and where people work is changing. Some work at home. Some move from country to country. We need to prepare our students for a new world of work. 

We live in an increasingly connected world where the ‘Internet of Things’ creates seamless streams of data about everything. Understanding and making the most of this data is the key to transforming businesses, public services, healthcare, and even learning.

The number of 18-year-olds is in flux. In 2019 there will be less. In 2030 there will be 140,000 more. A new, more socially conscious, digitally connected and entrepreneurial generation is emerging. They learn things online. They want to develop self-confidence. They also want to improve lives and enjoy a very different learning experience.

When you look at the bigger picture, the demand for higher education is unlikely to fall over the next 15 years. But the actual provision will change dramatically. We need to transform the way we teach and carry out research during this time. Our pioneering approach and strong vision for the future give us an advantage. We’re already thinking ahead to seize new opportunities. But now is not the time to wait to see what happens.

We need to respond to new threats, identify new opportunities and innovate – from the courses we offer to the way we attract funding. We must meet the expectations of new generations of students with different attitudes and outlooks. We also need the agility to adapt to new challenges. Our UEA2030 Vision will see us redefine our student experience, embrace future innovations and enhance our international reputation for the benefit of staff and students – past, present and future.

Read more about our vision that is based on the four pillars of student, research, staff and global success.