Change vs adaptability in HE: are we getting it wrong?

Higher education is no stranger to change. Over the years we’ve experienced shifts in funding models, policy reforms, national and international politics, technological advancements and student expectations. Yet, despite all this ‘change’, universities still grapple with ‘adaptability’.

• Originally posted to LinkedIn: 17th March 2025 [Link]

Here’s the thing: change and adaptability are not the same. We need to differentiate between them and understand the difference.

Change is often imposed (new systems, new policies, new strategies, new leaders, etc) whereas adaptability is an internal capacity (the ability to adjust, respond, and innovate in the face of constant change).

📢 We’re brilliant at managing change but not always at being adaptable.

Why does this matter? Real adaptability is about mindset, not just process. It’s about:

✅ Empowering staff and students to experiment, innovate, and co-create solutions.
✅ Shifting from rigid structures to agile and flexible approaches.
✅ Accepting uncertainty as part of the higher education landscape.

Yet, when big changes hit (like the advances in AI, online and personalised learning, or student wellbeing) our first response is often to control the change rather than build adaptability.

➡️ Are we training our students to navigate change or to be adaptable in an unpredictable world? Are we building adaptable institutions that thrive in change or ones that simply manage it? Are our leaders modelling adaptability or enforcing compliance with change?

➡️ What would happen if education had adaptability, not just change, at the heart of its culture? Is adaptability the missing link in how we approach transformation in education?

[ 📷 Photo by Rene Böhmer on Unsplash]