Exploring the Future of Higher Education with Bryan Alexander
In Part One of our special two-part series on EdUp Accreditation Insights, Laurie Shanderson and I sat down with Bryan Alexander, one of higher education’s leading futurists. Bryan is known for his thoughtful and provocative work at the intersection of technology, academia, and climate change. His books Academia Next: The Futures of Higher Education and Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis have challenged institutions to think differently about where we’re headed and what it will take to adapt.
This first conversation focused on the forces reshaping higher education right now and the challenges institutions must confront to remain viable. Bryan brought both urgency and clarity to the discussion, underscoring that universities are not passive actors in this story. They have agency in how they anticipate, prepare, and respond to the shifts unfolding around them. From demographic change to technological disruption to the climate crisis, his insights showed how futures thinking can help leaders move from reaction to intentional strategy.
What I found most compelling is Bryan’s insistence that futures work is not about prediction—it’s about preparation. It’s a way of equipping presidents, trustees, and accreditation leaders with the mindset and tools to engage with uncertainty rather than avoid it. That framing opens the door for proactive choices that align mission, resources, and vision.
Part One sets the stage for our continued conversation in Part Two, where we push even further into what these transformative times mean for higher education.