This open access Springer Brief provides a systematic analysis of current trends and
requirements in the areas of knowledge and competence in the context of the project (A) Higher
Education Digital (AHEAD)-International Horizon Scanning Trend Analysis on Digital Higher
Education. It examines the latest developments in learning theory didactics and
digital-education technology in connection with an increasingly digitized higher education
landscape. In turn this analysis forms the basis for envisioning higher education in 2030.Here
four learning pathways are developed to provide a glimpse of higher education in 2030:
Tamagotchi a closed ecosystem that is built around individual students who enter the
university soon after secondary education Jenga in which universities offer a solid
foundation of knowledge to build on in later phases Lego where the course of study is not a
monolithic unit but consists of individually combined modules of different sizes and
Transformer where students have already acquired their own professional identities and life
experiences which they integrate into their studies. In addition innovative practice cases
are presented to illustrate each learning path.
