Higher Education Nostalgia | Knowledge (Part 3)

For many years, higher education was considered the ultimate destination for gaining knowledge. In the pre-digital era, college campuses were the only places where people could access specialized education and, in turn, earn the degree that proved they were ready for aspirational careers.

However, in 2024, the landscape has changed dramatically. With AI and advanced technology at our fingertips, knowledge is now more accessible than ever. It’s no longer confined within the walls of a university.?

The question is: If knowledge can be accessed at your finger tips via the internet and the new AI powered GPTs, what role does higher education play today? Is it still the valuable knowledge hub it once was, or has it become something else entirely?

Here’s a link to the Higher Education Nostalgia conversation that Joe and I had during one of our Mondays with Matt sessions.

As innovative technologies like AI continue to reshape how we acquire knowledge and develop skills, institutions must rethink how they support the learner’s journey. It’s no longer just about delivering content or being a gatekeeper of knowledge —it’s about fostering curiosity, adaptability, and meaningful learning experiences. The challenge ahead is not whether knowledge can be found elsewhere, but how higher ed can evolve to remain relevant, impactful, and aligned with the personalized needs of today’s learners. Let’s explore five key points to spark our thinking.

Point 1. The Shift in Knowledge Accessibility

Before technology became a major player, knowledge was a scarce resource, curated and distributed mainly by colleges and universities.

Today, AI allows individuals to access a vast array of information, tutorials, and skill-building resources online, often at little to no cost. Anyone can watch lectures from top professors, learn new skills through platforms like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning, and even get certifications that are recognized by employers.

Point 2. The Evolving Role of Higher Education

If knowledge is no longer solely disseminated by higher education, does that make it less valuable? Not necessarily. What’s changing is how we define the value that higher education brings. Instead of being the exclusive gatekeeper of knowledge, universities and colleges now need to focus on other areas, like providing spaces for critical thinking, fostering personal growth, and creating environments where students can learn how to apply what they learned. The question isn't whether knowledge can be acquired elsewhere, but what unique experiences and outcomes higher education can offer in an age of abundant information.

Point 3. More Than Just Information

What if higher education's real purpose isn’t just to transfer knowledge but to teach students how to apply it? In a world where answers are a click away, perhaps the value of a campus’ experience is in the process of learning itself—navigating complex problems, collaborating with others, and developing the ability to think critically in a rapidly changing world.

Point 4. AI is not a Passing Fad

If you view AI as just a passing fad, remember that the same skepticism surrounded the internet decades ago. Many doubted its potential and feared its impact. Similar speculation is emerging around AI-powered GPTs.

It’s time to accept that GPTs will continue to advance, becoming more dependable than traditional books, which grow outdated with each passing day. As more insights are gathered and it evolves, AI powered GPTs will continue to refine itself, much like how the internet advanced from basic HTML to a dynamic world of today self driving cars.

Folks who struggle to see opportunity are usually the ones setting landmines because they can’t wrap their heads around how it will impact them, rather than seeing it as an opportunity to improve what they do.        

Point 5. Personalized Learning

Higher Education needs to shift its focus from merely distributing knowledge to personalizing learning, tailoring it for each individual. While this may seem overwhelming to some, remember that, before the internet, people never imagined they could access information through a digital device. In our lifetime, or even within the next few years, knowledge can and will be personalized for every learner. Therefore, our focus should be on supporting how people learn rather than what they learn. What they learn will also be customized, and perhaps the traditional concept of majors is not the best way to determine someone's capability for a job.

Final Thoughts: Reimagining Higher Education's Value

The challenge for higher education now is to evolve. It must shift from being a mere distributor of knowledge and assessor of conformity to becoming a place that fosters competency, experiences, and networks that can’t be easily replicated by online resources. It’s about the mentorship from experienced faculty, the debates that happen in a classroom, and the sense of community that forms over late-night study sessions. These are the irreplaceable aspects that AI and technology cannot provide.

In 2024, knowledge is no longer something that higher education solely owns. It’s now a shared resource available to all. But this doesn’t diminish the role of colleges and universities; instead, it challenges them to be more that a faculty member teaching from the front of the classroom or delegating it to their Teacher Assistants (TA). They must redefine their value by focusing on experiences, mentorship, and skill-building that go beyond simply dispensing information but also applying it. The true worth of higher education in today’s world lies in helping students not just to learn but to grow, adapt, and thrive in a future where knowledge is everywhere.

I know this Higher Education Nostalgia series has hit some nerves, and that is intentional. If we remain nostalgic about what Higher Ed is, we will miss the opportunity to reimagine what it truly could become.