Student Life in 2124: A Century of Transformation

The concept of envisioning student life a century into the future is a fascinating, albeit challenging, endeavor. History offers some guidance. Institutions like Claremont Graduate University, Ventura College and Bentley University, each with centennial celebrations, provide a unique lens through which to examine the evolution of education and student experiences. By examining their trajectories, alongside current trends in technology, demographics, and pedagogy, we can begin to paint a picture of what student life might look like in 2124.

A Century of Institutional Evolution

Many educational institutions are celebrating or have celebrated their centennials. Claremont Graduate University, for example, commemorated its 100th anniversary, marking a century of growth since its inception in the 1890s by Pomona College founder James A. Blaisdell. Initially responsible for administering shared services within the Claremont Colleges consortium, the university's centennial festivities included a spring celebration and a "Fall Centennial Celebration Week."

Ventura College, since its founding in 1925, has served over 12,000 students annually. Over the past century, the college has awarded over 90,000 degrees and certificates to a diverse student body comprising first-generation students, returning adults, high school graduates, veterans, and lifelong learners. Ventura College continues to evolve, launching programs like a Baccalaureate degree in Automotive Technology.

As Bentley University approached its 100th anniversary, it marked significant changes in a century of the school’s history that reflect the growth and progress accomplished in one hundred years of global history. One of the essential Bentley transformations is the evolution of student life on campus that is a direct result of the growing diversification of the student body. Upgrades to the school’s name, certification, and campus began a new era in Bentley history that included an increase in the number of female students, students of color, and international students.

These institutions' journeys highlight several key themes: adaptation to changing student demographics, the integration of technology, and a commitment to serving the needs of the community. These themes provide a foundation for contemplating the future of student life.

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Demographics and Diversity

One of the most significant transformations in student life over the past century has been the diversification of the student body. Bentley University, for example, saw an increase in female students, students of color, and international students. This trend is likely to continue, with universities becoming increasingly global and inclusive.

In 2124, student populations will likely be even more diverse, reflecting the increasingly multicultural and interconnected nature of the world. This diversity will extend beyond race and ethnicity to include students from a wider range of socioeconomic backgrounds, nationalities, and life experiences. Universities will need to adapt to meet the needs of this diverse student body, providing culturally sensitive support services and creating inclusive learning environments.

The Evolving Role of Technology

Technology has already profoundly impacted education, and its influence will only grow in the coming century. The Public Domain Review highlighted futuristic images from the early 1900s depicting machines directly wiring knowledge into students' brains. While this vision may seem far-fetched, it reflects a long-standing fascination with using technology to enhance learning.

Today, online learning platforms like Coursera and Udemy have made education more accessible, offering career-relevant courses to anyone with an internet connection. The pandemic accelerated this trend, forcing educational institutions to embrace digital learning in new ways.

In 2124, technology will be seamlessly integrated into every aspect of student life. Students will likely use augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to enhance their learning experiences, immersing themselves in historical events or exploring complex scientific concepts in a virtual lab. Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a significant role, providing personalized learning experiences and offering students customized feedback and support.

Ray Kurzweil predicts that our brains will connect seamlessly to the cloud (and all the knowledge therein) by the mid-2030s, giving us access to superhuman cognitive powers. Gerd Leonhard is blunter still: “When AI (artificial intelligence) meets HI (human intelligence), business as usual is dead.”

The Transformation of Learning Spaces

The physical spaces where students learn will also undergo significant changes. Traditional classrooms may become less common, with more emphasis on collaborative learning spaces and flexible, technology-rich environments.

Saint Ignatius High School may switch to all online work. Even today paper tests, worksheets and textbooks are falling out of mainstream classrooms. Time will only reinforce the idea of using laptops for schooling. Maybe some “old-school” teachers would continue to use paper, but finding one of these teachers would be few and far between. This switch to computers would have many profound effects, including the option to attend school virtually (similar to now), a complete change in the way we think of school, and also the school having a smaller effect on the environment. Also any chalkboards inside the classroom would be thrown away, for they would retain no use.

Campuses may also become more integrated with the surrounding community, with universities partnering with local businesses and organizations to provide students with real-world learning experiences.

The Extended Lifespan and the "100-Year Life"

Lifespans have been rising steadily across the world for well over a century thanks to better hygiene, healthcare and nutrition. The societal, political and financial implications of such developments are massive. Take pensions. Even in some of the wealthiest countries in the world, pension systems are coming under strain with too few young workers paying into a common pot that more and more retirees will depend on.

If many or even most children today end up living 90-100 years, the system could collapse. Moreover, it will simply not make sense for them to work for 30 and then retire for another 30. Working lives will likely need to lengthen significantly to keep the system afloat - and to make longer lives active and meaningful.

The concept of the "100-year life" will have a profound impact on education. Students may no longer see college as a one-time event but rather as a lifelong learning journey, returning to school multiple times throughout their careers to acquire new skills and knowledge. This will require universities to offer more flexible and accessible learning options, such as online courses, micro-credentials, and customized learning pathways.

The Rise of "Squiggly Careers" and Lifelong Learning

Longer working lives will mean that having one, linear career path will become a rarity. Most will need to - and many will want to - reinvent themselves at several points in their lives.Adaptability will be key, but so will the willingness and ability to learn throughout life.

2020 brought about decades worth of changes in the field of education in a matter of months. From first graders to university students, almost everyone had to embrace digital learning in some form. This helped cement the idea that we should learn continuously by making it more feasible to actually do so.

Yuval Noah Harari questions this, arguing that “much of what kids learn today will likely be irrelevant by 2050.”

Automation and the Future of Work

The accelerating pace of automation and artificial intelligence is such that no blueprint from the past can give us a very accurate sense of what lies ahead. Data is being harnessed to develop increasingly capable machines and sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) that can be used to automate more and more tasks that humans perform today.

Although doomsday scenarios about a jobless future aren’t likely to come true - by some estimates as few as 5% of jobs will be fully automated - the shift in the kinds of jobs that are available is likely to be dramatic and the turmoil continuous.

The World Economic Forum’s 2020 report notes that within a mere five years, “85 million jobs may be displaced by a shift in the division of labour between humans and machines, while 97 million new roles may emerge that are more adapted to the new division of labour…”

The Enduring Importance of Human Skills

The need for human oversight of robotic tools and artificial intelligence is likely to remain significant, at least for some time to come.The intersection of man and machine will define how the world of work develops in the decades to come. Peter Diamandis, another futurist, argues that “the real opportunity isn’t going to be AI versus humans; it’s going to be AI with humans.”

On a more tangible level, a 2019 report by the EU notes that: ”In the future… digital skills combined with strong non-cognitive skills [including empathy and communication] will be in greater demand”.Opportunities will be plentiful in less technical areas as well: hairdressers will still be needed (can you imagine letting a robot wielding scissors anywhere near your neck?), dancers will still be wanted and care work will grow in importance because humans, both young and old, only thrive in connection with other humans.

Our humanity will remain our most valuable currency in the face of unprecedented change - and our ability to adapt our only true superpower. On a more concrete level, “the four Cs” - critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity - will become highly prized.

Preparing Students for an Uncertain Future

Our current education systems may be great at imparting knowledge, but even the most progressive ones are struggling to shift to a more flexible model of learning that helps children “feel at home with the unknown”, as Harari puts it.

Regardless of where you live, it’s imperative to seek out alternative ways for your child to build up the kind of adaptability and resilience needed to ride the coming waves. For most kids, this will come most naturally and enjoyably through experiences, rather than textbooks.

Volunteering or doing an internship abroad can help make discomfort comfortable. So can studying or learning a new language abroad, immersed in a new culture and in a new way of life.

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