Transforming the University to Serve the Digital Age
By James J. Duderstadt
President Emeritus and University Professor of Science and Engineering
University of Michigan

This thoughtful and well-written essay provides the reader a general overview of the forces-primarily technological-that are playing on higher education and how they are affecting both the fundamental enterprises of academics (teaching, research, and service) and the nature of the system itself.

In short, the demand for life-long learning and anytime, anywhere educational availability will force the traditional higher educational system to move from a faculty-centered (the universities control the where, when, and how of educating) system to one that is learner-centered. The higher education institutions of tomorrow, whether public or private, will cater to the "just in time" educational needs of the population.

It is apparent that Dr. Duderstadt feels that the impending changes will be revolutionary rather than evolutionary in nature, and-reading between the lines of his writing-will take full force in the period 5 to 10 years from now.

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