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I have to laugh when I think about the times I watched the television program, “Flash Gordon.” He would putt through outer space in his make-believe spaceship, talking on his make-believe wireless radio, and dressed in his make-believe space suit. But now, I’m no longer laughing. Today, we have actually shuttled astronauts into outer space, with men living in a Space Station. We have space suits that can take your temperature and gauge your heart rate, and wireless communication devices that can send pictures back to Planet Earth. It’s no longer far-fetched from reality. As we speak, the future is staring us in the face, waiting to see how we will embrace it in the next 5-10 years.

So, how did science-fiction become reality over the past 50 years? Let’s take a look at one aspect of innovation: post-secondary education. Why post-secondary education, you may ask? Well, as the post-secondary education population continues to grow, there will be a need for programs that can accommodate the students and allow them the freedom to create and design systems that they play around with on a daily basis.

Of course, there are risks involved in this adaptation process. Change always comes with risks, and it’s important for leadership to diplomatically confront these risk areas that could potentially slow down progress. Some of the risks that could be encountered due to change include systems risks, subsystem risks, people risks, financial/economic risks, and societal/cultural risks.

However, if there is strong communication between systems, subsystems, people, and cultures within the organizational environment, these risk factors will be minimized as long as the creative teams are honest and upfront about any reservations they may have about change.

Now, let’s take a look into the future through ‘futureoculers’ and see how the universe of learning can be brought into the present. I want to introduce you to five key trends that I believe will greatly affect the current learning environment and have the potential to create change and revolutionize the perspectives of both learners and educators for the students of the future.

These key trends could be the key to creating a new perspective in post-secondary education for institutions. The trends are as follows: competitive classroom learning environments (both campus-based, online, and distant), an increase in technological tools, more hands-on teaching/learning environments, global expansion capability (both internally and externally), and student input in the creative learning process.

But before we delve into these key trends, let’s first acknowledge how they will be supported and regulated through a changing environment. According to de Kluyver and Pearce II, having the right systems and processes/subsystems is essential for organizational effectiveness and adaptability to change. Misaligned systems and processes can hinder an organization’s ability to adapt. This is why checking the effect that current systems and processes have on a company’s ability to implement a particular strategy is crucial.

Support systems such as planning, budgeting, accounting, information, reward, and incentive systems are critical for successful strategy implementation. A well-designed planning system ensures that planning is done in an orderly manner, receives the right amount of attention from the right executives, and has a balanced focus on both external and internal factors. Budgeting and accounting systems provide historical data, benchmarks, and measures of performance. Information systems support all other corporate systems, facilitating analysis and communications. Lastly, a properly designed reward and incentive system is key to motivating and committing employees.

Processes and subsystems, on the other hand, define how things are done within an organization. They can either facilitate or obstruct change. Some processes or subsystems focus on developing a stronger capacity for adapting to change. For example, processes or subsystems aimed at creating a learning organization and fostering continuous improvement are examples of processes that can facilitate change.

Once we have a clear understanding of systems, subsystems, and support processes, we can see our destination in the distance and their value in building a foundation to support the five key trends. These trends will define strategic thinking from a global perspective. They require risk-taking, imagination, creativity, communication, and an understanding of how the future can be integrated into our present agenda.

So, what are these five key trends? Let’s take a closer look:

1. Competitive Classroom Learning Environments – This trend focuses on accommodating students at every level, whether it’s academically, financially, or socially. It recognizes that students have various options when it comes to choosing a post-secondary institution and aims to create an interactive learning environment that can attract and retain students from different backgrounds.

2. Increase in Technological Tools – With the rapid advancement of technology, it’s important for educational institutions to keep up. This trend emphasizes the need to incorporate technological tools into the learning process to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

3. More Hands-on Teaching/Learning Environments – This trend recognizes the importance of providing students with practical, hands-on experiences. It encourages educators to move away from traditional lecture-style teaching and focus more on experiential learning, where students can apply what they learn in real-world scenarios.

4. Global Expansion Capability – In today’s interconnected world, it’s crucial for educational institutions to have global expansion capabilities. This trend emphasizes the need to embrace diversity and provide opportunities for students to gain international experiences. It also highlights the importance of building partnerships with institutions from around the world.

5. Student Input in the Creative Learning Process – This trend recognizes the value of student input in the learning process. It emphasizes the importance of giving students a voice and involving them in the decision-making process. This can lead to more engaged and motivated learners.

By navigating through these trends, we can set ourselves on a path towards a successful destination. It’s important to recognize the value of systems, subsystems, and drivers in building a strong foundation to support these trends. With the right support and regulation, we can embrace the future of learning and create a new perspective in post-secondary education.
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Ihab Salloum