Where will higher education be 5 years from now?

Self-driving cars and trucks are on the verge of being the norm. Kiosks are overtaking fast food restaurants and airport check-ins. And even UPS drivers are learning how to drive via virtual reality before hitting the road in an actual truck. But where does this leave higher education institutions? Higher education institutions may need to think about for the future such as do they need to embrace cryptocurrency in its curriculum? Should students be able to earn a degree that takes months not years? Will students be able to order via a kiosk rather than through a human behind a cashier? In this article, I discuss where will higher education be five years from now.
 
Courses in Cryptocurrency
There is a growing phenomenon about cryptocurrency, and higher education will have to embrace it sooner or later. Remember the whole crypto current phase were one bitcoin was worth over $9,000. Since then the price has dropped dramatically. However, that has not pushed people away from cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency will be the norm on college campuses. There are even organizations on campuses for cryptocurrency. For example. The University of Minnesota has the Cryptocurrency Club. The reason why is because it’s the new wave of currency, ten years from now we will have a digital atmosphere, and students need to know technology.
 
Micro degrees will be recognized
Five years from now micro degrees will be more accepted by employers because they will come from institutions of higher learning and not an organization offering $50 for certification of completion.
 
Not all students have the time to go to college full time and may only need a few courses to get the proper training on a particular subject. With institutions needing revenue, they will come around and start granting micro degrees as an official degree to increase enrollment and as a revenue driver. 
 
Cafeterias will be self-serving
A while ago I was teaching a business course at an institution in a Chicago suburb where the cafeteria had self-serving vending machines and grab as you go. With institutions having to cut costs I can see where a large number of institutions will do away with its cafeteria staff and have vending machines and self-serving stations. Why waste costs on staff when you can place vending machines to serve student’s needs. And this also goes for coffees shops on campus where kiosks will be the norm.
 
Higher education institutions will have to move towards the future whether that’s jumping on the cryptocurrency bandwagon, awarding micro degrees or self-serving cafeterias time has changed and it's time higher education institutions do the same. Where do you see higher education five years from now?  

Dr. J Real Talk

Discussing business, ed tech, and life. Follow me on social media @DrJRealTalk  ​