Higher education is at a crossroads. Colleges and universities that were once able to maneuver with careful deliberation now face an accelerating wave of disruption driven by digital transformation, shifting student expectations, and new economic realities. The traditional model of waiting for challenges to arise and responding cautiously is no longer sustainable. To thrive in this evolving landscape, higher education institutions must move from reactive technology approaches to proactive, forward-looking strategies that strengthen resilience and unlock new opportunities.
Technological innovation creates new obstacles—but also new paths to progress. Leaders must confront pressing challenges that go beyond just implementing new tools, such as:
- Enhancing cybersecurity and risk governance to protect against increasingly sophisticated threats.
- Improving digital equity and inclusion to ensure students of every background can fully participate in a tech-enabled learning environment.
- Balancing generative AI innovation with safeguards that protect the integrity and value of education.
- Strategizing resource allocation and empowering the workforce.
By addressing these interconnected challenges with a proactive lens, higher education institutions can harness change as a strategic advantage for long-term success.
Successful Change Starts with People, Not Technology
Empowering people in how they use technology is the key to sustainable change. For higher education institutions to adapt and thrive in the AI era, the focus must be on building AI fluency and institutional readiness. Progress for higher education starts at the individual level.
As Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer of Code.org and Lead of TeachAI, noted:
“Teachers are saying, ‘I need training, it needs to be high quality, relevant, and job-embedded…’ In reality, people require guidance, and that means teachers and administrators going through professional development.”
This need for guidance is clear across higher education. Educators and education leaders alike acknowledge that AI is paramount to professional development. Nearly half (47%) of education leaders cited AI upskilling for employees as the top workforce strategy for the next 12 to 18 months, according to Microsoft’s AI in Education Report.
For educators, the stakes are even higher. Their professional development in AI has a compounding effect, shaping not only their own readiness but also the preparedness of the students they teach.
The workforce students will enter is already defined by AI-driven expectations. A strong majority (76%) of global leaders now view AI literacy as a core component of basic education. This means students must develop the ability to manage AI assistants, critically evaluate outputs, and delegate tasks effectively, rather than relying passively on automated tools and habituating dependencies.
But nurturing the requisite skills in students requires educators to possess them first. Therein lies the gap—nearly 45% of global educators report they have received no AI training at all. Without targeted professional learning programs, colleges and universities risk falling behind in preparing both their staff and their students for an AI-powered future.
Bridging the Gap in Higher Education with Connection
To bridge this divide, institutions must invest in high-quality, relevant, and ongoing professional development that equips their people, not just their platforms, to thrive in a world where AI is central to both education and work.
Higher education leaders need a trusted technology partner to help them manage change for long-term success. At Connection, we are committed to empowering institutions through innovation and collaboration, with a people-first mindset.
Higher Education Technology Solutions and Services
As an accredited Microsoft in Education Global Training Partner with 25 years of serving the public sector, Connection provides higher education organizations with specialized technology solutions and services including:
- Microsoft for education solutions, such as the Microsoft Education Transformation Framework, the Professional Learning Copilot Institute for Microsoft 365 Copilot and GitHub Copilot, and Learning Accelerators
- AI-powered tools for educators, students, and administrators
- Customizable solutions for IT modernization, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making
Every institution faces the same waves of disruption, but each navigates them from a different starting point—with its own culture, priorities, and constraints. That’s why a one-size-fits-all approach to technology won’t work. Higher education leaders need strategic solutions tailored to their unique mission, and they need a trusted partner who can align technology with people, process, and purpose to turn vision into reality.
Keep Up with the Latest in Higher Education at EDUCAUSE 2025
Now more than ever, higher education leaders must look ahead for what’s to come. No matter how far off new innovations seem now, the luxuries of today soon become the necessities of tomorrow.
But it’s hard to preemptively prioritize your attention and resources with so many unknowns. Leaders need a space to listen and learn from peers, which is why events like the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference are critical in times of disruption.
EDUCAUSE connects the brightest minds in higher education technology to discover creative solutions for today’s challenges and plan for tomorrow’s possibilities. Now is the time to seek out opportunities for collaboration, networking, and thought leadership.
Find us at EDUCAUSE, where our higher education experts will be showcasing solutions around:
- Generative AI and academic integrity
- Cybersecurity and risk governance
- Digital equity and inclusion access
- Strategic budgeting and the changing IT workforce
If there’s one thing education leaders and professionals appreciate most, it’s that learning happens best through connection. EDUCAUSE 2025 offers higher education leaders the chance to step away from day-to-day pressures and immerse themselves in forward-thinking conversations that shape the future. By engaging with peers, exploring practical solutions, and sharing your own experiences, you’ll leave better equipped to turn disruption into opportunity.
Harness Change with an Expert Guide
Whether you’re navigating AI’s impact on academic integrity, grappling with cybersecurity threats, striving to expand digital equity, or devising new budget and workforce strategies, EDUCAUSE is the place to find inspiration and be proactive for what’s to come. Join us there, and let’s reimagine together what higher education can achieve in the years ahead. To learn more about Connection’s higher education solutions, connect with a Connection Higher Education Technology Expert and schedule a consultation.
Bobby Sears
With over 20 years of experience, Bobby has had the privilege of collaborating with Fortune 500 companies, both within the enterprise landscape and the public sector. His extensive experience includes positions range from the Director of IT, which allowed him to harness the power of technology to drive organizational growth, to the VP of Sales, where he spearheaded sales strategies and teams to exceed quotas and expand business reach. As the Director of Marketing, he steered branding, outreach, and campaign management to resonate with target audiences and position companies at the forefront of the industry. As the Sr. Vertical Alliance Manager for Higher Education for Connection, Bobby is forging strategic partnerships aligned with customer needs to drive growth.
