The Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies describes Megatrends as great forces in societal development that will affect all areas of general human growth and progress in years to come. These long term driving forces, or Megatrends, have great importance now and there is confidence they will have great importance in the future. Apply this conceptual strategy of future planning to the world’s international education industry and what Megatrends can we identify?

Since our first attempts at developing an international higher education forecasting model we have been refining the list of core drivers that we believe will have a profound effect on the direction and growth of international higher education in the future. Although not an exhaustive or complete list, we have identified seven Megatrends.

• Demographic shift
• Economic dynamics
• Changes to political conditions
• Growth in education provision
• Digital technology
• Global workforce demands
• Cultural impact

The Megatrends - The future of international higher education elaborates these seven Megatrends and how they can influence the development of the international higher education in the future.