EDUCATION SECTOR
Dr. Linda Speldewinde
LOWS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
What must change in the education sector – especially among educators
Present-day education sector in a sentence
Totally outdated and in need of radical change.
Strengths of the higher education sector
People still believe it can deliver and are ready to invest in it.
How to build on that strength
The offering needs a complete revamp to deliver what gen Z, industries of the 21st century and the post-pandemic world need.
Main weakness of the education sector
People don’t understand that an educator’s job ends not by offering a qualification but creating the right kind of professional and placing him or her in a value creating role.
Other weaknesses of the sector
Lack of visionaries in the sector, and cross-cultural and collaborative knowledge exchange models.
New prospective customer segments
Apart from the primary gen Z audience, industry professionals who now understand that they’ll become obsolete unless they reskill.
Other potential segments
Cross border students who want to come online and those who believe in lifelong learning irrespective of age or experience.
Three evolving consumer trends or behaviours
Purpose driven creation and consumption; higher demand for content creators; and a heightened need for emotional intelligence.
Three barriers to the sector’s growth in Sri Lanka
A lack of updated and progressive training; poor communication; and inadequate sustainable policy-making across the profession.
Main impact of COVID-19 on the education sector
A complete and much needed redefinition by accessing the digital sphere – and the global landscape of resources, collaborations and opportunities through it.
An initiative to enhance higher education in the post-COVID era
Educational technology (EduTech) has been a breakthrough space, enabling pioneer educators to drive change and deliver to the new world, and gear up to deliver the right kind of talent.
Scope of the sector in Sri Lanka
Education can follow industries or lead the change in them. It’s time to lead and give industries the support they need, by creating the appropriate talent and relevant skills.
Regional higher education in a nutshell
Has the potential to create a great foundation around cultural innovation that will solidify the identity of the region and enable it to make its own contribution globally.
Describe the sector for gen Z in a sentence
Gen Z knows what they want and are fully geared to benefit from it
And who is holding them back…
The sector itself and people from other generations delivering it.
Impact of social media on the education sector
It is a great network to find out what people are doing, and share what’s being done in other parts of the world.
Sri Lanka’s competitiveness in a few words
as the ability to become a hub by leveraging tech alongside Sri Lanka’s rich culture and innate creative outlook, and influence and inspire the region.
Impact of the digital age in Sri Lanka
Highly active but hasn’t been completely unveiled yet – and is on its way to delivering a unique vision and ambition for the country.
Sri Lanka’s readiness for technology adoption
Very high but needs greater effort to bring cultural inclusivity to the country.
Virtual team management in one sentence
Think virtual first and then define the physical space – this is the best way to manage the virtual space and ensure productivity through teamwork.
Impact of social media on the world at large
It’s larger than what it was created for.
Competition drives innovation
Yes – because it does not allow complacency and pushes differentiation.
The education sector in five years’ time
Completely different and unrecognisable from what it is today. The many who have not understood this will not survive.
Your mantra for success
Get comfortable coexisting with turbulence and the unknown if you want to be an innovator, an entrepreneur or a creator of any sort.
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