5 ideas for change in higher ed from SXSW EDU

Pushback against rising tuition, the stress of shrinking state funding and the possibilities afforded by advances in technology have higher ed leaders beginning to challenge some basic assumptions about their field. That process tends to be slow, however, and often makes for hubbub at trade conferences long before its effects can be seen. But eventually the wheels get traction, and those given time with the mic do more than ideate possible solutions to well-documented problems. (Though one can argue that's an important step, too.) That was the case throughout this year's SXSW EDU, where higher ed leaders shared small but significant moves they are making toward broader change. Education Dive was present last week in chillier-than-usual Austin, Texas, to learn about the tactics colleges, consortia and other industry groups are using to address some of the concerns around the accessibility and relevance of higher education in the 21st century. With the economy hovering near full employment, employers can't be as picky as they could during and after the recession about the skill levels of the workers they hire. That's left them desiring better training and working on their own and with higher ed to get it.