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DISRUPTION
The New Age
of Education
Higher education institutions are facing
increased competition for students while
experiencing lowering enrollment, increased
tuition, and reduced public funding. Within
that climate, high-profile universities are
focused on attracting the most talented
professors and students. Creating an
appealing environment for students today is
a major challenge as changing technology,
lifestyles, and business environments impact
what students are looking for in college.
Additionally, the breadth of the university’s
mission is broadening and the makeup
of its students is becoming more diverse.
According to the National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES), the non-white
student population for all U.S. postsecondary
institutions increased from 29.2% in 2000
to 42.4% in 2015. During that same time,
the number of non-U.S. residents attending
these schools has increased by 86%.
There is pressure to find cost savings, as
government funding has been declining,
but also a need to keep up with student
demands and expectations for how a 21st-
century education should look and feel. The
competition for outstanding students in
higher education mirrors the war for talent
in the business world. Corporations are
increasingly focused on their employees’
physical spaces in order to attract and retain
young talent, while increasing productivity
and collaboration. And, just as companies
are investing in workplace design to create a
‘wow’ factor that differentiates them to the
labor market, higher education institutions
are also focusing on facilities, culture,
technology, and land use strategies as
critical components in meeting growth and
success goals.
Postsecondary Enrollment - U.S.
Total # of Students (Millions)
1990
1995
Total Enrollment
% non-White
2000
2005
2010
2015
20
40%
15
30%
10
20%
5
10%
0
0%
Global Enrollment by Continent
Total # of Students (Millions)
Africa Asia Europe Central /
So America
North America Oceania
200
150
100
50
0
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
In less than 15 years, global postsecondary enrollment more
than doubled from 100million to 208 million students. This
growth is driven by the tripling of postsecondary students in
Asia, which increased by 76 million from 2000 to 2014 and
now accounts for more than half of all such students.
Source: NCES
Source: NCES
DISRUPTION
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