The future of English higher education: two scenarios on the changing landscape

A Delphi study was carried out, soliciting views from higher education experts on likely and desirable developments in English higher education until 2025. 44 experts participated in the first round of the study and 31 of these also participated in the second. This paper reports on the most salient findings of the Delphi questionnaire and presents two scenarios. The two scenarios focus largely on the institutional fabric of the higher education system. The first scenario follows the general agreement (relatively speaking) which emerged from the two rounds of the Delphi study. The second scenario is a counter-scenario which intends to present an alternative picture of English higher education in 2025.