Support your independent higher education futurist

Today I’d like to invite your support for my work.

To explain: I’m an independent higher education futurist and can’t do this work alone.

What that means: as a higher education futurist, I conduct research into how academia evolves.  A whole slew of projects and initiatives fall under this header, such as writing books and articles.  The Future Trends Forum is part of this effort, an unusual, weekly video conversation about higher education’s next steps.  (We’re coming up on our sixth year anniversary.)  There’s the long-running FTTE Report, a monthly trends analysis.  We have an online book club. And there’s this very blog. I wrap all of these together under the Future of Education Observatory banner.

And there’s more, as the commercial used to say.  Exploring the intertwined future of academia and the climate crisis led to my next book, Universities on Fire (forthcoming, Johns Hopkins University Press). Along with the book will be a series of projects in 2022, hoping to expand and develop conversations and strategy around the topic.  On deck is a podcast series, Future Trends Forum sessions, articles, a virtual event, and maybe more.

The “independent” part of being an independent higher education futurist is where you come in.  “Independent” means that I do this work without a net. No institution is behind the Observatory. No family wealth makes it possible.  No government, business, or nonprofit powers the work.  I don’t have tenure or a full-time employer. Instead, I remain independent of any editorial influence. Therefore a mix of streams keep the lights on and the machines humming: consulting work, speaking engagements, virtual events, some sponsors, FTTE subscriptions, and the great supporters on Patreon.

Today I’d like to invite you to join them and keep it all going.

Here are some ways to help:

• Subscribe to my YouTube channel. With enough eyeballs the platform will be kind. (And this is both easy and free!)
• Join the great folks on Patreon.  I post, speak, and make video content there for supporters, who share their thoughts together.
• Subscribe to the FTTE Report. Each monthly issue is packed with detailed trends analysis, every point backed up by linked research. Check the sample issues to see if it’s for you.  You can sign up as an individual or as an institution.
• Purchase the award-winning book Academia Next, either in hardcover (through its publisher or Amazon) or audiobook editions.
• Consider engaging my services for your organization.  That can be speaking, leading workshops, doing research, teaching, and more.  All of it can occur either in person or virtually.  Join the long list of satisfied clients!
• Consider becoming a sponsor, or recommending the Observatory to one.  (For this, reach out to me directly.)

I deeply appreciate any of these actions.  I work hard to make sure each brings value, both to supporters and, hopefully, to the broader conversation about academia’s future.

I know not everyone can contribute.  These are wild times and we have both restrictions and priorities.  I appreciate whatever you can do.

More, I believe deeply in the power of networks.  This post has too many “I”s for my taste, but the work is thoroughly social and connectivist. Much of it is about connections between people, from conversations, collaborations, professional development, and networking to friendships.  Folks contribute not only their financial support but also their thoughts, creativity, and analysis, which makes the overall work smarter and better.

The future of colleges and universities is too complex – and too important – to go it alone.

Please support the work.  And thank you.