Fewer than 1 percent of higher ed leaders envision a return to only in-person learning, and they see socioeconomic barriers as one of the greatest obstacles for at-risk students, according to a new survey.
Global learning technology company D2L‘s March 2022 Future of Education Reimagined webinar survey polled 346 higher education leaders across North America–including professors, deans, student success advisors, IT executives–to discuss challenges and opportunities with respect to the future of higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key findings include:
Which skillset do you anticipate will be the most important to the global workforce in the coming years?
- Innovation and creativity skills (including problem-solving and analytical thinking) – 40.46%
- Interpersonal skills (including emotional intelligence and social awareness) – 28.03%
- Technology skills (including data science and programming) – 13.58%
- Writing, language, and communication skills – 12.43%
- Global citizenship skills (including sustainability) – 5.49%
When considering at-risk students, what is the point of greatest concern for you or your institution?
- Socioeconomic or sociocultural barriers – 43.64%
- Signs of mental health distress – 30.64%
- Financial troubles – 13.01%
- Declining grades – 10.12%
- Camera turned off during virtual calls – 2.60%
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