A group of men and women standing, using laptops. — Image credit: iStock/Prostock-Studio / Courtesy of Times Higher Ed

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Tina Reed

For Generation Z, Online Courses are the Future of Education

“To understand the direction education is taking in the digital age, we must first look at the most critical element: the students. What is different about Generation Z, and what they expect to get from education, compared with previous generations?

Understanding Gen Z

Generation Z’s identity has been shaped by the digital age, climate anxiety, a shifting financial landscape and the Covid-19 pandemic. These factors can influence their perspectives on education, often leading to a degree of mistrust that then dictates their priorities and timelines. Gen Z students are carving their paths in a world filled with uncertainty and, as a result, making decisions about their education can cause them stress.

In my 25 years’ experience in education management, I have observed a noticeable shift in student orientation toward education, accompanied by growing concern and panic about their future. This generation‘s heightened focus on the return on investment of their educational journey reflects the financial insecurity of the era, and influences how they approach and perceive educational experiences. Unlike previous generations, today’s students are harder to impress, with their satisfaction increasingly tied to factors related to cost, benefit and impact.

Key characteristics of Gen Z

Digital natives: Gen Z has fully embraced the digital age, becoming citizens of the emerging world of artificial intelligence. They’re comfortable using tools and techniques that produce glamorous, picture-perfect outputs, far removed from conventional material. Their digital proficiency requires a reassessment of many of the standards governing our educational systems.

Social media and visibility: Social media plays a crucial role in Gen Z’s lives, with visibility and presence often equated to impact. They are shrewd consumers, constantly targeted by personalised marketing. The abundance and availability of resources defines their consumer behaviour and must be considered when designing educational experiences.”