ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Futureproofing universities
How can tech help? By Kas Mohammed, VP of Digital Energy at Schneider Electric
U
niversities are facing an existential crisis. Unprecedented technological disruption, internationalisation and cuts to funding, as well as changing student expectations, combine to create a perfect storm for higher education establishments. Universities that fail to adapt, may become extinct. To meet these challenges, universities need to make long term decisions. Fundamentally, they must design strategies that factor
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in market changes. This means proactively developing a futureproof infrastructure that can adapt and flex to any and all developments. All universities must question their investments with the future in mind. Four ways to futureproof universities: Experience Prioritising student experience is critical to securing the future success of universities. With
increased competition, institutions must effectively invest in improving student services. Increasingly, universities are looking to ramp up their digital offering in line with the wider economy. Online services, such as portals and mobile apps, are key to achieving this goal. Mobile apps can offer admissions information, orientation schedules, activities, and map progress toward academic goals. Mobile apps are able to empower students to fully control their