The report called “Deliberate Innovation, Lifetime Education”, developed by the Institute of Technology of Georgia (Georgia Tech) has five initiatives to innovate and get closer to the future.  

Initiative 1: Personal comprehensive education

Development of new educational programs that generate cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.

Promoting an experience-based in relevant contexts.

Developing critical thinking and collaboration in multicultural environments.

Graduates’ training should be research oriented, similarly to that of postgraduate courses.

Initiative 2: New products and services

The report suggests creating flexible education experiences, and fostering continuous learning by:

Creating microcredentials, including insignias, certificates and microdegrees.

Intensive courses during periods called Minimesters, which may overlap or alternate with traditional semesters.

Blockchain technology that enables students to demonstrate learning and achievement by showing credential to possible employers.

Initiative 3: Advice for the new era

Advice and training will be provided with the support of a strong learning database, and AI assistants that work along with every students in a life-long learning model.

In addition, the creation of Personal Boards of Directors to create students’ professional networks are strongly suggested.

Initiative 4: Artificial Intelligence and Customization

Introducing the use of Artificial Intelligence and customization by:

Developing pilot tests of adaptive learning platforms to provide students with customized educational experiences.

Development of virtual multifunctional tutors who may act as coaches or mentors.

Initiative 5: distributed global presence

Georgia Tech aims at decentralizing education in a physical campus to develop online spaces and hybrid spaces; physical places that work as real and virtual platforms to be used by students.

In addition, it expects to develop human libraries, where people may access the experience of individuals instead of books. In other words, students may interact with specialists and experts on a topic, besides having traditional access to books.

These initiatives demand a plan of cultural change within universities that promote innovation.

Even though the plan has been developed for the Georgia Tech, it may be used as a guideline to understand that path that universities will take in the years to come.

Source: Observatorio de Innovación Educativa Tecnológico de Monterrey