ZSchool is a higher education partner, delivering diverse curriculum to executive and business audiences through a variety of industries. While bringing together educational programs, universities, and Fortune 500 corporations, ZSchool partnerships provide benefit and growth to students and businesses alike. In the following article, ZSchool reviews educational trends shaping the future of higher education and beyond.
The world, under near constant fluctuation and change, allows more than just corporations and businesses the opportunity to adapt alongside their target audience.
Those who work in higher education, and those who attend their academic programs, have noticed a handful of notable shifts occurring in the wake of public health crises (COVID), generational shifts (specifically Gen-Z’s attending college), and more.
Education Accessibility
ZSchool reviews that perhaps one of the most apparent changes that will come to the scope of higher education is adapting to a more diverse audience across the board.
Hybrid Learning Styles
Among all of the changes that occurred in the academic realm during the COVID-19 crisis, ZSchool reviews that the shift to online learning was by and large the most palpable. Students made the change to Zoom-led lectures and labs and submitted assignments and tests through regulated online servers.
The adopted online model brought to light that the only thing truly missing from virtual academic experiences was sociability- which some students feel is unnecessary to begin with explains ZSchool.
Though a bulk of colleges and universities are going back to the traditional means of education, a number of them are allowing some curriculums to continue with an option for hybrid or blended learning. For introverted students, or those who can’t afford to relocate or move onto campus, this makes quality education more than just a pipe dream according to ZSchool.
Nontraditional Student Accommodation
Colleges, like HBCU Morehouse, are using online platforms and virtual degree-earning as a means make education more accessible for the nontraditional student. ZSchool reviews that a four-year, full-time degree may be great for those who are just graduating high school but may be unlikely or impossible for 20-plus-year-old working adults to take advantage of.
ZSchool reviews that some colleges are even adopting unique aspects in order to allow adult learners to enter with the most college credits possible, making graduation and the completion of the program more within reach. This includes offering credits for past work and life experience, which most nontraditional students have immense amounts of.
An Adapting Education
In the ever-growing digital age, universities need to keep in account that knowledge is more readily available to the general public now more than ever and develop academic systems that make the experience of learning valuable ZSchool reviews.
Also, with more and more students entering higher education with a means of making money, colleges need to promote reason why having a degree is something to be strived for and valued in the workplace.
Consumer-Driven Tactics
The world is money driven. With consumerism at its all-time high, and with a majority of degree earners attending college programs to later be employed with a steady-paying job, more and more academic institutions are learning to model their curriculums after market trends.
For example, a student in a journalism course may have been previously expected to learn how to write newspaper pieces, whereas in a newer model, they’ll delve into digital journalism, blog writing and the like.
A Harmony of Tech and Tradition
This allows schools the opportunity to blend traditional methods of learning with new technology.
Educators can teach students how to use technology to their advantage in the workforce, implement online programs to make teaching (especially in programs like engineering, archaeology, etc.) more understandable, as well as use supplementary education to further aid in understanding the curriculum.
Mental Health Importance
A heavy issue that arose during COVID-19 and the throughs of virtual learning was that of mental health. With some students yearning to be away from troublesome home lives, missing interactions with their classmates, and simply wanting normalcy- institutions made noticeable changes to their mental health procedures.
These shifts have changed, especially once educational higher-ups recognized the rise in student utilization once programs were implemented.
Accessible Counseling
During the pandemic, colleges adopted virtual counseling, and even telehealth counseling to make therapy available to students regardless of where they were located. For students who prefer solitude, or don’t have a means for transportation, the preservation of hybrid mental health services is nothing short of a lifesaver.
Diverse Counseling Options
Inclusivity is a word that best describes the upcoming trends in higher education, including that of mental health. ZSchool reviews that with the demographic of the college student body being drastically different than it has been even in the past 10 years, higher education programs need to make changes to ensure that there is equal opportunity for all.
In counseling, that means offering professionals that are specially trained to best understand the needs of a diverse student body- one of all ages, backgrounds, socioeconomic standings, etc. Not only will this make the campus a more understanding environment, but it showcases the paramount importance that the institution places on its most vital aspect: its students.
