On the relationship between society and higher education: what path should we take?

Abstract

The current network society, with its primacy of information and communication technologies, is challenging the higher education model. The needs and expectations of today’s students differ from those of students in the past, and educational practices should adapt to modern times. But what changes will we see in the relationship between societal transformation and the higher education system? In this research paper, we set out a quantum-based approach in order to analyze this relationship and to advance the understanding about the role that distance education will play in the future. Under this perspective, we provide an illustration that allows for the representation and evaluation of future scenarios.

Keywords:

• Higher education
• network society
• ICT/new technologies
• quantum approach
• future
• distance education

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the following for their very helpful comments and suggestions: Benedikt Heid, Alejandro Riaño, two anonymous referees, participants in the ODLAA 2017 Conference, held in Melbourne (Australia) in February 2017, and participants in the 12th Regional Innovation Policies Conference, held in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) in October 2017.