UoQ researchers Kelly Matthews, Carmen Garratt and Doune Macdonald will have captured and held the attention of the university Senate, with their paper on the future of post-compulsory education, not least because it is a concise as it comprehensive.

They headline three issues:

lifetimes of learning in a digital world: “Continuous learning will be vital as people change careers more often over a longer working lifespan. … University curriculum has to create space for students to learn how to learn and imbue values for continuous learning.”

student expectations will change and new providers will appear: “more favourable attitudes toward online delivery from prospective students and growth in lifelong learning for professionals signal a need to rethink the traditional, on-campus only model of learning.”

technologies will power education and change campuses: “new and emerging technologies promise integrative systems affording a nuanced and personalised student experience creating opportunities for flexible, relevant, and deep learning. … The possibilities of micro-credentialing and online learning opportunities create space to rethink the traditional academic calendar.”