“Complacent” British universities that fail to respond to the rise of online universities will be swept away by global competition, says a report into the future of higher education.
Sir Michael Barber, chief education adviser for Pearson, says online courses will be a “threat and opportunity” for the UK’s universities.
This “avalanche” could see some middle-ranking universities closing, he says.
“There are too many universities doing the same thing,” says Sir Michael.
The report, An Avalanche is Coming, argues that higher education faces an unpredictable global revolution, driven by the impact of the rise in online universities.