One of the most pleasing aspects of the trend towards the
increasing use of digital tools in education is that universities
and professional bodies are working together to offer the chance of
studying finance to more people than ever before.
Digital revolution has opened up enormous
opportunities for those who have traditionally been excluded from
higher education, with colleges and universities adapting to offer
more flexible courses, remote tuition and life-long learning.
It's undoubtedly true to say that the nature of
higher education is shifting in the wake of technological
change.
This digital revolution brings opportunity, because
students are not tied to a single learning location as
before.
Technology annihilates distance, and it brings
higher education within reach of entire populations who have been
locked out of the best education because of an accident of
geography.
I recently made these points to an audience of
academics, higher education professionals and employers at ACCA's
Global Virtual University Conference. ACCA has published research
based on the views of deputy vice-chancellors; business school
deans; professors; department heads; accreditation bodies and trade
groups from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Morocco, India,
Ireland, Nigeria, Norway, South Africa, the UK and the USA.
Our insight is that students' emphasis is on
flexibility; on opportunities to develop over time and to learn new
skills; there is a thirst for life-long learning; they are not so
hung up on a university experience which lasts three or four years,
and ends with a degree.
They want skills which will help them adapt in a
fast-changing world, not just a qualification or a diploma to hang
on a wall. They are also more concerned about the social impact of
the work they will do.
Employers crave graduates who are curious and
adaptable; men and women who can solve problems; employees with a
desire to build their knowledge and capacity throughout their
career. Their priority isn't to fill specific vacancies. They want
people who will grow with their business and help their business to
grow.
Universities and professional bodies can work
together to prepare the finance professionals of the future and to
use this new flexibility to offer the chance of a useful, rewarding
and meaningful career to thousands of students.
One of the most pleasing aspects of the trend towards the
increasing use of digital tools in education is that universities
and professional bodies are working together to offer the chance of
studying finance to more people than ever before.
Digital revolution has opened up enormous opportunities for
those who have traditionally been excluded from higher education,
with colleges and universities adapting to offer more flexible
courses, remote tuition and life-long learning.
It's undoubtedly true to say that the nature of higher education
is shifting in the wake of technological change.
This digital revolution brings opportunity, because students are
not tied to a single learning location as before.
Technology annihilates distance, and it brings higher education
within reach of entire populations who have been locked out of the
best education because of an accident of geography.
I recently made these points to an audience of academics, higher
education professionals and employers at ACCA's Global Virtual
University Conference. ACCA has published research based on the
views of deputy vice-chancellors; business school deans;
professors; department heads; accreditation bodies and trade groups
from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Morocco, India, Ireland,
Nigeria, Norway, South Africa, the UK and the USA.
Our insight is that students' emphasis is on flexibility; on
opportunities to develop over time and to learn new skills; there
is a thirst for life-long learning; they are not so hung up on a
university experience which lasts three or four years, and ends
with a degree.
They want skills which will help them adapt in a fast-changing
world, not just a qualification or a diploma to hang on a wall.
They are also more concerned about the social impact of the work
they will do.
Employers crave graduates who are curious and adaptable; men and
women who can solve problems; employees with a desire to build
their knowledge and capacity throughout their career. Their
priority isn't to fill specific vacancies. They want people who
will grow with their business and help their business to grow.
Universities and professional bodies can work together to
prepare the finance professionals of the future and to use this new
flexibility to offer the chance of a useful, rewarding and
meaningful career to thousands of students.
Keep up to date with all the business and community news
from Glasgow's IFSD by subscribing to our monthly
e-newsletter or connecting on LinkedIn
and twitter.#IFSD