From Lines of Development to Scenarios

After examining the current developments in the field of knowledge and competence requirements, university teaching and technology, and their effects on a digital society through various background studies, this chapter focuses on modeling and developing different scenarios and discussions with regard to technology and social developments. Different economic and social requirements as well as new forms of didactics and learning environments will lead to necessary changes in higher education. It should provide a link between continuing and higher education by identifying new ways of recognizing skills acquired informally. Strong support most notably for new students, should combine performing, developing, and explorative teaching and learning situations. Meanwhile, it will be essential for the didactics of the future to be sensitive to the needs of learners and offer individualized support for student-learning paths, making education independent of time and place. Finally, selected approaches to developing future scenarios in higher education focusing on institutions and governance issues, technology, and social developments are discussed in more detail.