Education for the future generations

Higher education is at a turning point defined by rapid digitalisation, societal crises and the development of artificial intelligence. The aim of this chapter is to present the key challenges facing higher education in these circumstances and to offer possible solutions from three perspectives: the ones of students, teachers, and institutions. Students of the future expect more than just knowledge transfer – they are looking for experiential learning, flexible pathways to knowledge, and support in developing soft skills, such as resilience, creativity, and technological literacy. The role of the teacher, on the other hand, is increasingly transforming from a traditional source of knowledge to the one of a facilitator, collaborator/ mentor, and meaning-maker. The successful teacher of the future must thus de­velop pedagogical, digital, and social competences and create a psychologically safe learning environment. At the same time, education today is no longer a one-off event, but a continuous lifelong process of adapting to changes in the work envi­ronment. We conclude the chapter by outlining a possible new social contract that would enable higher education to retain its relevance, inclusiveness and value-orientation – both for the individuals and for society.