Bundling and Unbundling

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The number of Postsecondary Title IV institutions has fallen by over 1,100 (or 16%) in the last decade.

“There are only two ways I know to make money in business: bundling and unbundling.” - Jim Barksdale, former CEO of Netscape

Was 2012 “peak bundle” for post secondary learning and the last decade+ are the beginning of an unbundling cycle?

True, he says “make money in business” and I’m applying it to education. For any post secondary institution - for profit or non-profit, start-up or large public university - success or failure relies on the ability to attract students/learners who value your offering. Effectively, to be a successful business.

Data that the peak bundle passed in the early 2010’s:
▶ In the 10 years between 2010-11 and 2020-21, the number of Title IV institutions dropped by 16% (over 1,000 institutions)
▶ In 2010 31% of degree seeking students took at least one online class. In 2022 54% took at least one online class.
▶ The significant growth of microcredentials over the last 15 years with active (though yet to be passed) legislation like Short Term Pell and the Jobs Act that would extend the Pell grant to short term programs.

Data that the peak bundle is coming:
▶ Two words - Artificial Intelligence
▶ “There'll be one corporation selling one little box. It'll do what you want and tell you what you want and cost whatever you got.” - Greg Brown

How about a future of “build your own bundle”?

Check out The Flight School envisioned by Abby Falik. It’s a wraparound experience of learning for those immediately post college to make meaning from their job, internship, travel, and formal learning. A reimagined gap year, it includes “scaffold(ing) self-directed learning with cohorts, coaching and courses that wrap-around the most important curriculum of all: life.”

I want to see more of this.