Higher education 2050: survive or disrupt?

Date: November 12, 2025
Time: 15:00 – 16:00
Location: Main stage

Will we see a consolidation of higher education provision in the UK in the decades ahead, with a trend towards mega-institutions offering the full gamut of options? or will we see increasing specialisation and coordination, as institution seek to play to their strengths? Will the sector be entirely cloud-based? Will we have robot academics? Nobody knows for sure, but for the final session of the Festival of Higher Education we’ll be indulging in some speculative fun with a serious intent – because to a not-insignificant degree, the future of higher education will be determined by the leaders and decision-makers of today.