Interesting Reads This Week

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So much of what is possible comes about only because first we can imagine it being so. Having a vision and goals is key to getting anything done in EdTech as much as in life. But other things sometimes get in the way of these goals being achieved, and the combination of the two is a lot of what I have been thinking about this week.

Higher ed in the land down under, full of hope and full of wonder

This week to save your time I read all 408 pages of the Australian Universities Accord, Final Report, the blueprint for the future of higher education in the land of beetroot on burgers and other delicious traditions.

Coming from the US, one of the striking observations for me was the unapologetically pro formal higher education stance taken in the report. Making the argument that changes in the world of work over the next decade, as well as the severity of Australia’s current skills shortage, are going to require nearly everyone to have some sort of postsecondary qualification, the report lays out a plan to increase these numbers dramatically. Currently 60% of Australians have a postsecondary credential, the goal is to increase that number to 80% by 2050. Currently 45% of young Australians ages 25-34 have at least a bachelor’s degree, and the goal is to increase that to 55%. Achieving these two goals will mean doubling the number of commonwealth-supported students (Australians, New Zealanders, and humanitarian visa holders) from just over 800,000 to 1.6 million by 2050. This need even though levels of tertiary education in Australia are already pretty good.

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