"With lifelong learning becoming the norm, some institutions that once called themselves ‘universities’ are reincarnating themselves as ‘enterprise businesses’ or ‘workforce solutions providers’."

Higher education is quickly transforming from a sector targeting predominantly 18-22-year-old students to one embracing the older learner, many of whom are adults seeking greater flexibility in how they learn and the ability to combine work and education. With lifelong learning becoming the norm, some institutions that once called themselves ‘universities’ are reincarnating themselves as ‘enterprise businesses’ or ‘workforce solutions providers’. They are targeting both the business-to-business market, offering educational services to private sector companies to help workers enhance their careers and grow professionally, and the business-to-government market, catering to civil servants. At the same time, continuing education programs are being adapted to digital formats, often through partnerships with educational technology companies. 

Education leaders immersed in the space share insights on a topic that is impacting many emerging market tertiary education institutions.