Higher education was challenged by declining enrollments, financial uncertainty, and unique localized problems in 2019. The year is now over, and we can look at trends for higher education in 2022 with the help of Charles Darwin’s quote:

• “The species that survive will be the one that can adapt to and adjust to changing environments the best.”
• Here are some things to be aware of (and embrace) in the coming year. In the following year:

10. Alternative funding options will be required

Federal funding has been a significant source of funding for higher education. Digital Marketing Institute reports that the government funds 33% of the operating budgets for state schools in Illinois.

Many states have begun to reduce enrollments across the country. This means that schools will need to look for new funding avenues.

Expanding faculty research programs is one option. Potential students and faculty can be attracted to research facilities by likely businesses that are willing to fund research and development projects. A state-of-the-art research center is a great way to differentiate your institution in a highly competitive market for higher education.

9. Fundraising campaigns will be reassessed

There is good and bad news. Inside Higher Ed reports that alumni are making record-breaking donations while the number of donors is steadily declining. More money is coming in, but it’s coming from fewer alumni.

Very few Michael Bloomberg-level donors can give substantial amounts of money to their alma matter. Consider this: Are you a recent college grad with $50,000 in student loan debt and an entry-level job? Will you donate to your alma matter?

8. A healthy economy will affect enrollment

Particularly for community colleges, enrollments tend to rise during economic uncertainty.

Consider the 2007-2009 recession as an example. Between 2006 and 2011, there was a 33% rise in enrollments at two-year colleges. This is also known as the years of high unemployment and low economic activity in the United States.

In 2010, 29% were enrolled at a community college. This dropped to 25% in 2015 after the recession ended. This was lower than the 26% average.

The economy was strong in 2019, and many community colleges (and universities) saw a decrease in enrollment. Although the economic state is beyond college leadership’s control, it is possible to avoid surprises by following institutional patterns and market trends.

7. The College Leadership will Change

According to the American College President Study, college presidents have an average tenure of 6.5 years. This is a drop from 8.5 years in 2006. This could be due to our earlier note about declining enrollments and the funding problems many higher education institutions face.

Although the pace of change in college presidents is slower than in other industries, it is still happening. 2016 saw 30% of college presidents being females, and 17% were minorities. These numbers represent a mere 4% increase over 2011. These numbers are only 4% higher than in 2011. However, most of these positions remain in the hands of white males in their 60s. With declining tenure averages, we may see more dramatic shifts in the future.

6. Guided Pathways will become more common

Most American community colleges are designed to provide a wide range of programs with little guidance or support for students. This structure is known as the “cafeteria” model.

Achieving the dream refers to the cafeteria model. It states, “the result has been a student floundering in community colleges across the country, racking up huge amounts of credit and debt, burning through money aid, and often with very little to show it for it.”

Guided Pathways is a strategic approach for community college curriculum planning that aims to improve student success. Institutions can assist students in avoiding many of these setbacks by creating more organized program maps and guiding them through their selections.

Here’s how data analytics can help institutions create their Guided Pathways plans.

5. Competency-Based Education will continue to grow slowly and steadily

The pace and methods of learning are changing thanks to technology. Colleges are continuing to be interested in competency-based education programs.

Competency-based education allows students to learn at their own pace. Walden University says competency-based education will enable students to learn at their own pace. This is in contrast to taking predetermined courses that take a certain amount of time.

The U.S. Department of Education has joined the fray, declaring that “this type of learning leads to greater student engagement because it is relevant to each student’s needs and tailored to them.” Because each student is learning at their own pace, it leads to better student outcomes.

4. There will be more MicroMasters programs.

MicroMasters programs offer a more flexible and accessible way to get higher education. Online courses have fulfilled a lot of this need.

These graduate-level courses are offered by top universities as MicroMasters and are intended to help individuals advance in their careers. These courses are online versions of master’s degrees and can be recognized by employers. Students can also get credits from the institution, which can be used for a master’s program.

A wide variety of universities and colleges offer MicroMasters programs. Some of the most prominent names include MIT, Boston University, and Georgia Tech.

These programs increase degree accessibility and affordability for students while helping institutions get more students into their doors. Boston University’s MicroMasters in Digital Product Management is an example. It includes five graduate-level courses and can be completed in eight months. The cost is $1,995. Students who want to continue their education, but don’t need to borrow a lot of student loans, will find this a more affordable option.

3. Online Education will continue to thrive

Online learning is the most significant improvement in higher education. It has changed the way we think about going to school. Interestingly, 33% of students enrolled in higher education now take at least one online class.

Online programs may seem more convenient than ever. Many reputable institutions are looking into new ways to offer online education. These are just two examples.

Arizona State University allows students to complete their first year online. They also have some additional benefits through the Global Freshman Academy. Students can pay for their courses at term’s end using a “try before buying” policy. However, only if they are satisfied with their grades and want academic credit.

The University of Pennsylvania has teamed up with Coursera, an online learning platform, to offer a master’s in computer and information technologies. This partnership is 1/3 of what it costs for their on-campus degrees. This Ivy League graduate program can be completed online for a fraction of the usual cost.

2. As an educational tool, virtual reality will continue to grow.

Virtual reality (VR) isn’t just a fad in the video game world. Education Dive reports VR is being used in 46% of colleges. This makes it the most popular educational tool.

The adoption of VR technology is an intelligent move by educators constantly looking for innovative pedagogical methods to increase student engagement on campus and online. A University of Warwick study found that VR learning methods had a more significant positive emotional response than traditional video and textbook methods.

1. Institutions will continue to use data for their benefit

Data is what allows us to know the information above. Data is a crucial tool for colleges, universities, and community colleges to understand better their institutions and what they can do to improve. This is particularly important in a time of declining enrollments.

Data is a powerful tool for the higher education sector. Data sets provide all the information you need about your institution, from student demographics such as race and gender to course success rates and disproportionate impact rates. Why is enrollment declining in ENG 101? Why is MAT 103 so difficult for a particular cohort? You can quickly identify trends using data and gain context to strategize for solutions.

Teachers are in charge of shaping the new generation’s lives, making this field an extremely satisfying and rewarding career choice. Therefore, more than 3.1 million people select teaching as their profession and pick a teacher’s program that suits their needs.

However, the education sector offers numerous career opportunities, allowing individuals with degrees to influence others differently.

Different Career Paths in Education

People can choose various career paths in education, depending on their skills and interests.

Teaching

Teaching is primarily the initial career choice after acquiring a degree in education. These individuals identify and polish each student’s talents to help them reach their full potential. Teachers can offer services in preschool, elementary, middle, or senior high school, depending on their interests and education level.

They are traditionally responsible for creating an organized plan to show the curriculum and test students’ knowledge. Analyzing the tests, communicating with parents, creating rules, and reinforcing them will also be part of the job description.

Required Qualification

• For a preschool teacher: The positioning takes a certificate in the teacher’s program and a bachelor’s degree in education.
• For elementary school teachers: The post takes a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, an internship, and a state license/certificate.
• For middle school teachers: The positioning takes a bachelor’s degree, certification of teachers program, and previous teaching experience.
• For senior high school teachers: This job post takes a bachelor’s degree in a certain subject, teaching experience, and a teaching license.
• For college professors: The post takes a doctorate in the selected field, teaching experience, and postdoctoral research.

Education/School Administration

Education administration revolves around leadership roles, such as, for instance, vice principal, principal, superintendent, and program director. An education administrator decides the curriculum, hires staff, and creates rules for students and teachers. There is also to make the budget following salaries and extracurricular programs.

Required Qualification

An education administrator will need to have these qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education
• Master’s degree in education administration and leadership
• Teaching license or certificate
• Teaching experience
• Principal certificate
• School Counselor

A school counselor works with students to market their social and emotional development. They also help students make career choices and manage academic issues. Therefore, counselors have one-on-one sessions to hear student concerns and problems.

• Required Qualification
• School counselor qualification requirements are:
• Master’s degree in school counseling
• Internship experience
• State-issued license to practice
• Librarian

Librarians play an essential role in the student learning experience. They facilitate students in research projects, assignments, and exam preparation by pointing out the best study material. Updating the library inventory is another responsibility of the individuals.

Required Qualification

A librarian will need to have these qualifications:

• Master’s degree in library science from American Library Association (ALA) accredited institute
• Library internship experience
• State-license or certificate

School Social Worker

A school social worker is a skilled mental health professional that helps students handle behavior problems, mental health concerns, and emotional distress. School authorities hire social workers to help students accomplish their academic goals and reduce violence and negative behavior.

• Required Qualification
• School social workers need to have these qualifications:
• Master’s in social work
• A passing grade in the State examination
• License or certificate of social worker
• Required Skills for Working in Education

Individuals must hold a particular skillset to work in the education field, which contains the next:

Communication

Communication is one of many necessary skills for individuals in the education sector. This skill is needed for teachers, school social workers, counselors, and administrators, to allow them to effectively convey their message to the students.

Patience

Since every person learns at a different pace, workers in the education industry need to care for every student with patience. This skill helps individuals to stay calm in distressing situations and find a clear answer without losing their temper.

Dedication

Working with learners demands dedication and motivation. Therefore, individuals seeking a career in education need steadfast commitment to keep up their energy levels without getting discouraged.

Conflict Resolution

As students spend lots of time in close quarters together, it’s common for conflicts to appear. School workers must learn how to quickly handle and resolve a dispute without showing a biased attitude.

Organization

Organizational skills are essential for individuals in the education sector. Teachers need managerial skills to produce and implement lessons and test the students knowledge. School administrators must plan, organize, and implement methodological techniques to operate the educational institute effectively. Similarly, librarians must have this quality to make a systemized arrangement.

Wrapping Up

Education is a vast field with career options, including education administrators, school counselors, social workers, and librarians. However, each post takes a different qualification level and skillset to fulfill the role successfully. Therefore, any individual looking to pursue a career in education must register for the right training program to begin their journey.

Minister for Education Norma Foley welcomed the publication of the 2023 Dormant Accounts Action plan and announced information on the €3.8 million in funding the Department of Education will receive.

This tranche of funding represents a growth of almost €1.8 million on the 2022 allocation from the Fund.

The department has supplied over €1.4 million to keep the City Connects Pilot Programme in several primary schools in Dublin’s North East Inner City, focussing on the impact of poverty and educational attainment.

An innovative pilot project to establish closer links between the mainstream and special school systems is awarded €500,000.

The department is also proposing a selection of measures to support greater participation and inclusion of Traveller and Roma students in post-primary education, as this is where the best significance of intervention lies. Almost €900,000 has been provided supporting those measures, which will see enhanced Home school Community Liaison (HSCL) for Traveller and Roma students attending non-DEIS schools, where HSCL is generally unavailable.

Minister Foley said:

“I am pleased to announce that almost €4 million has been allocated from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2023, providing valuable opportunities and new resources to support students through the entire country vulnerable to educational disadvantage, including students with disabilities and additional needs, Traveller and Roma students and newly arrived migrant students.

“The education measures supported in the 2023 Action Plan alongside those supported by other government departments demonstrate the major impact that dormant accounts funding can have in the lives of many, who most need that support and particularly so in these difficult times.”

Other education measures funded in the 2023 Action Plan include:

• €300,000 for the Foróige Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) program to offer opportunities to 10-18-year-olds to develop and apply entrepreneurial skills
• €180,000 for the Young Social Innovators Growing Youth Participation & Innovation in Irish Communities project to market civic and social innovation amongst teenagers in Ireland
• €280,000 for to offer the use of School Completion Programme structures for kids seeking international protection to further enhance and promote school readiness
• €115,000 for the City of Dublin ETB Migrant Integration Project providing a selection of targeted education interventions for newly arrived migrants aged 13 to 18 impacted by significant periods of disrupted education and for people that have low degrees of English
• €100,000 for The Big Idea, providing a 12-week creative TY program developing creative thinking skills
• €43,956 for the MTU GoalMine Transition Year Programme – providing a 2-day living-lab experience using a design-driven innovation process
• €20,000 for Time to Count providing a numeracy enhancement program for primary school children in DEIS or School Completion Programme schools
• €20,000 Transport Costs to Glasnevin Trust supporting students from DEIS schools to go to Glasnevin Cemetery