Futures Thinking in Higher Education: A Conversation with Bryan Alexander
In Part Two of our special series on EdUp Accreditation Insights, Laurie Shanderson and I welcomed back Bryan Alexander, one of the most trusted voices on the future of higher education. Bryan is widely recognized as a futurist, researcher, and author whose work challenges us to think critically about how technology, climate change, and shifting cultural expectations are reshaping academia. His books Academia Next: The Futures of Higher Education and Universities on Fire: Higher Education in the Climate Crisis have become touchstones for anyone serious about anticipating the sector’s next chapter.
In this episode, Bryan helped us explore the transformative pressures facing colleges and universities today. From the accelerating impact of emerging technologies to the existential questions raised by climate change, he painted a picture of an academic landscape in flux. What stood out was his ability to move beyond abstract predictions and instead frame futures thinking as a practical tool, one that leaders, trustees, and faculty can use to make informed, strategic decisions in the present.
Our conversation reminded me that higher education is not simply reacting to change; it is actively shaping the conditions under which it will operate. Bryan’s perspective highlighted both the urgency and the possibility of this moment. Institutions can either wait for the future to arrive or engage now with the trends and forces that will define their survival and success.
For presidents, trustees, and accreditation leaders, this discussion is an invitation to think bigger and plan smarter. Bryan doesn’t just describe what’s coming—he challenges us to act with foresight and courage.