Global Higher Education Turbulence: A SWOC Analysis

Higher education institutions globally are facing a growing number of issues that require attention. Faculty and Administration are “under siege” from the dramatically changing landscape of higher education. While each institution has its own unique set of issues, all colleges and universities are contending with several shared challenges. This roundtable examines these pressing challenges and related opportunities for institutions via SWOT Analysis. Key areas of discussion include: 1) declining enrollment, reduction in public funding, and “activists culture"; 2) faculty dissatisfaction and layoffs; and 3) student apathy and entitlement. Strengths: Global reputation, dedicated faculty, and visionary administrators. Weaknesses: declining enrollments; increasing financial deficits; disgruntled faculty; and students as “customers.” Opportunities: priorities online course offerings to capture adult, non-traditional, and distance learners; expansion into the international student market; and budget agility. Challenges: emerging college alternatives - challenges from trade schools, coding boot camps, and IT companies’ in-house certifications; erosion of all brick and mortar businesses; crisis of the middle class; electoral and identity politics from the far left (antisemitism, etc.) and far right (1619 project); rise of magical thinking; COVID legacy As demand for a knowledge-intensive workforce grows, institutions that meet challenges and navigate these turbulent waters remain the best way to approaching middle class.