Our team places itself at the heart of today’s education sector. To provide for the professionals and institutions of the country, we must have absolute knowledge of the shifts that will affect their worlds. That’s why we have gathered insight from our team to offer our thoughts on the key topics that will characterise 2017 in education.
What’s up with the Higher Education Bill?
Much disputed, the government is doing its best to pass the Higher Education and Research Bill - which will introduce a wide range of changes to how university students are taught. The meaning of it is to promote a more experiential, innovative learning environment - it will also allow private colleges to profit from awarding degrees.
With Britain’s best universities regularly listed in the world’s top 20, it is hard to believe that great teaching is a problem in our universities – but it is something that the Bill aims to improve. Regardless, this will be contested in the House of Lords in the coming months, and it would be worth keeping an eye on the conversation.
Will the Bill redefine the role of a university in Britain, commercialising the sector? Some are saying, yes.
Innovation in schools
It is no secret that the sector is being modernised. Most of the debate today is over whether change is happening fast enough. This year, we suspect that the changes will be thicker and faster than before. In the coming months, EdTech (educational technology) will begin booming – driven by the innovative start-up culture in London and extending throughout the UK.
Most EdTech services and products are shaped around boosting learning, collaboration and efficiency. We expect this sector to herald a new era, the likes of which teaching has never seen.
While some argue that technology aims to automate the personal teaching experience, we think it is there to be pioneered by teachers - supplementing their current teaching styles with new more engaging formats.
Keep an eye out for Firefly, an app that helps connect students and teachers by annotating homework more interactively. We also spotted Technology Will Save Us, a Hackney-based business that mixed hardware and software development skills for children.
It’s going to become an interesting new world for teachers who choose to embrace it!
Boardroom to classroom
We have spotted an interesting careers trend: Many high-flyers from our biggest business districts are choosing to fulfil themselves by becoming teachers. This has been reported in The Guardian, and we expect many more business people to take the leap this year.
The key drivers for teaching as a later life profession are mixed. Some have always wanted to teach; others have gathered so much knowledge that they feel the need to share it. Teaching with experienced knowledge of commerce and employment will certainly benefit new generations of children.
We have also seen a big shift in mission-driven professionals, looking to education for more than just work. They are looking for moral, ethical, enlightening employment experiences – all things that teaching can provide.
International student reform
With Brexit upon us, the topic of how the UK will accommodate new international students will be front-of-mind and the newspapers. While decisions are yet to be made, there is speculation that the government could slash international student visas by almost half if concerning to many.
International students bring more than £10.7bn to the economy, in addition to a wealth of rich and diverse cultural benefits, making this decision fairly fundamental for the economy. I’m also sure teachers and institutions much prefer teaching a range of individuals, broadening their skills as an effective communicator and teacher.
As of now there are no answers. Although, this has potential to cause the biggest shake-up in the system this year.
If you’d like to reshape your career, or if you’d like to bounce around some ideas for the future, get in touch with our experienced education consultants.
Call 0208 5066740 or email info@urbanlearning.co.uk
