And by the future, I mean 10 to 15 years. College is going to change, because it has to.

Melissa Korn writes at the Wall Street Journal.

The End of College As We Know It (And Students Feel Fine)

In 15 years, college as we know it won’t disappear, but it will be profoundly different, with more on-demand classes, free online materials and significantly more employer input on what is actually taught in schools.

So says a massive new survey of 20,876 undergraduate students in 21 countries, conducted by polling firm Zogby Analytics and commissioned by Laureate Education Inc.

Recognizing the speed of change in most industries and the pace at which new skills are required to get ahead, 41% of respondents–and more than half of China-based respondents–anticipate that students will be able to earn credits and certificates throughout their careers, instead of cramming college into a two- or four-year stint. In other words, they say, students of the future will get practical training on an as-needed basis.

“Students recognize that a degree is temporary and static and, instead, seem to recognize that in a gig economy [in which workers make a living with several different freelance projects] … their education will involve more certification and re-certification,” according to the report detailing the survey results, being released Monday.

Such demand for flexibility could portend significant changes in how schools serve their students.

More than half (52%) of respondents believe that most courses will be offered throughout the day and night hours, and 44% expect to tune into lectures or work on projects whenever they wish.