Challenges in higher education today call for a more learner-centric approach

The Challenges

Cost: Tuition increases hover between 2.9% per year for public four-year universities and 3.7% for private non-profit institutions. Rising tuition has not yielded rising revenues for institutions of higher learning. In fact, it has only translated to greater student debt, despite doubt that a college degree equals a higher paying job.

Workforce Needs: It’s well documented that there is a mismatch between employer expectations and what universities are teaching. Measurement and evaluation can help inform how well an institution is doing, but there is still work to be done to close the gap between education and the acquisition of employable skills.

Retention & Success Rate: It is difficult for institutions to keep up with innovation and changing demands. And universities struggle to retain students, particularly those whose families can't support them and are unaware of financial aid opportunities. At the community college level—and even in four-year institutions—some students start school lacking basic skills, making it easy for them to fall behind.

The Solution

We must reach a state of seamless, integrated experiences for students; and their wants and needs must be considered so that education can become more "learner-centric."

Learner's needs, preferences, and the demands on their time are constantly evolving, which is, in turn, fueling disruption and uncertainty within the industry. At Blackboard we've created a new vision for learning; one that's centered on the learner and evolves as quickly as they do. Our New Learning Experience is an approach that fosters better engagement, interaction, and quality learning through the delivery of leading-edge technology, services, and data capabilities.

Independent market research firm, Wainhouse Research, conducted a study on this approach in the white paper titled, "Making the Shift to Learner-Centric Education." Download it today to learn how a more learner-centric approach can help your institution.