UC students explore transformative trends shaping the future

UC students explore transformative trends shaping the future

Bearcats research the future of healthcare, education and entertainment

Strategic foresight is a top specialty of the University of Cincinnati's NEXT Innovation Scholars, a highly selective cohort of high-potential students.

Each year, the team publishes a future creators report known as "Horizon Shift" and reports on it from the 1819 Innovation Hub.

This annual report highlights accelerating trends across healthcare, education and entertainment. By closely examining today's societal and industry shifts, students hope to provoke thoughtful conversation about changes we could see in the years ahead.

Below are various movements that students in the program envision for shaping the future:

Healthcare and patient care trends

Second health trend: Profit over patient

Students in the program also warn of a health care field "pressed to embrace the industry label, potentially at the cost of care." This could reduce research investments as health care providers prioritize profitability over patient care and positive health outcomes. Customers may start comparison shopping for medical procedures.

Third health trend: A "whole" new world

Not all is bleak when it comes to the future of health care. NEXT Innovation Scholars researchers suggest a promising shift on the horizon - one where innovation moves beyond merely "treating diseases to … proactively making patients whole so they can live their best lives." Futuristic advancements - like genetically designing babies and eliminating the risk for diseases - could be on the horizon, though they could face significant legal and ethical challenges.

Educational system trends

First education trend: Education as an ideological expression

The spike in political polarization has increasingly permeated the education sector and this trend is likely to accelerate in the coming years.

According to NIS students, "Nearly every aspect of education from curriculum, textbooks and policy to the teachers themselves presents an opportunity to shape the worldview of students."

For this reason, there could be an increase in families "shopping for schools" that fit their ideological perspectives - and some parents may opt for private education.

NEXT Innovation Scholars Futures Report, Volume Two

Second education trend: The education arms race

"The stakes for getting ahead in the educational system have never been higher," according to the NEXT Innovation Scholars team, "and the race to the front of the pack has never been more heated."

This growing pressure could have major effects on families, from students enrolling in expensive preparatory courses to gain admission to "elite institutions" to companies offering leave so working parents can support their children through the college application process.

Third education trend: The enrollment cliff

NEXT Innovation Scholars researchers found that for more than a decade, "a rise of alternative educational pathways and questions around the value proposition of an expensive college degree" has led to decreased enrollment levels. Universities could respond by merging with each other and charging different tuition rates based on each degree's expected return on investment. Businesses could also cut higher education out of the picture by offering internal workforce training programs.

Entertainment trends

Second entertainment trend: When the AI credits roll

While major entertainment firms are investing large sums of money into AI, NEXT Innovation Scholars researchers forecast "a potential future where AI-generated entertainment is just another failed 'next big thing.'" Rising discontent with AI-formulated content could lead to Hollywood's decline while indie groups find success. Content creators may also need to relearn their skills after years of being replaced by AI.

Third entertainment trend: Artists are king, again

According to NEXT Innovation Scholars, "A growing number of consumers appear to be shifting their focus back to an era of valuing artistic integrity, bold creative vision and distinctive execution of craft." This could lead to venture capital investments into artists and creators and a direct-to-fan monetization model that eliminates streaming platforms. Artists might also start patenting pieces of their media rather than full productions to prevent aspects from being copied by AI.

Featured image at top: Visualization of big data. Photo/Adobe Stock

Innovation Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.

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