Tec de Monterrey, WEF Map Trends Reshaping Higher Education

Higher education institutions in emerging economies are undergoing structural change as demographic shifts, financial pressure, and demands for inclusion challenge traditional university models. Against this backdrop, Tec de Monterrey and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have released a joint analysis outlining the main forces expected to reshape higher education in Latin America and other emerging markets.

The study, Higher Education in Emerging Economies, identifies eight megatrends that are redefining how universities finance themselves, engage with students, and position their social role. It also introduces an interactive tool designed to support decision making by universities, governments and academic leaders facing long-term uncertainty.

According to Alejandra Molina, National Director for Extraordinary Situations, Tec de Monterrey, the project was born from a practical need to move beyond reactive planning. Anticipating change, she says, allows institutions to better manage risks and determine which challenges can be transformed into opportunities. This approach has become increasingly urgent in emerging economies, where volatility tends to be higher and institutional resilience more difficult to sustain.

The research originated within Tec de Monterrey’s risk management area, which sought to evolve its analytical framework. Working with WEF experts, the team reframed risk analysis as a forward-looking exercise focused on opportunity identification. The process involved in-person workshops held in Mexico City, Monterrey, Puebla, Queretaro, and Guadalajara, bringing together representatives from Tec de Monterrey, Tecmilenio, public and private universities, and local and federal authorities.

Drawing on more than 100 trends identified in high-level international reports, the team refined its analysis through these consultations, narrowing the list to 64 trends and ultimately consolidating them into eight megatrends considered most influential for higher education in Latin America. The research was led by Guillermina Benavides, Director of the Master’s Program in Strategic Foresight, Tec’s School of Government and Public Transformation, in collaboration with WEF specialists.

The eight megatrends include digital transformation in education, climate change and its institutional impact, restructuring of university financing, student inclusion and well-being, the development of innovation ecosystems, lifelong and flexible learning, social stability and education, and the future of specialized work. Each presents region-specific challenges, particularly in systems with limited public investment.

“As schools prepare for 2026, the most influential current trends in education are less about adopting every new idea and more about prioritizing what matters most,” says Michael Healey, Higher Education Researcher, Discovery Education. 

According to the WEF, investment in education leads not only to economic growth but also to it being more sustainable and inclusive, as it gives people skills, which they need for the jobs of tomorrow. The relationship between investment in education and economic prosperity is obvious in countries' long-term relationship of investment in education with their GDP growth rates.

One data point highlighted in the report is the region’s low level of investment in research and development, which stands at about 0.62% of GDP, well below levels seen in developed economies. This gap constrains universities’ ability to generate innovation and respond to evolving labor market needs. Addressing it, Molina says, will require changes in resource allocation and greater institutional agility.

The study places special emphasis on the conditions emerging economies face, where political transitions, budget constraints, and structural inequality can disrupt long-term planning. Despite the opportunities they offer, emerging markets face persistent structural challenges. Political instability in many countries can discourage investment and disrupt long-term economic planning, while economic volatility exposes these markets to external shocks such as commodity price swings, currency depreciation, and inflation. Infrastructure gaps remain a constraint on growth, limiting connectivity, productivity and access to markets. At the same time, complex and sometimes inconsistent regulatory frameworks can raise barriers for foreign investment and complicate business operations. 

Changes in government often have a stronger and more immediate impact on universities than in developed countries, while insecurity, uneven access to basic services and shifting political priorities add further complexity.

Rather than serving as a static report, the findings are hosted on the WEF’s Strategic Intelligence platform as an interactive “transformation map.” The tool allows users to explore connections between education trends and more than 250 global topics, including climate change, geopolitics, and technological development. Users can also generate customized executive reports using AI, with content updated on a continuous basis.

Beyond mapping trends, the study challenges the traditional university model centered on degree delivery. It argues that institutions must evolve into lifelong learning ecosystems that support individuals across multiple stages of life, with flexible formats and closer alignment to social and labor market needs. Examples such as the Virtual University of the State of Guanajuato, which is developing microcredentials in partnership with companies, illustrate alternative pathways already emerging in the region.

Although originally intended for university leadership, the study is addressed to a wider audience that includes policymakers, academic staff, students, and professionals pursuing continuing education. This broader scope reflects the view that all stakeholders play a role in strengthening education systems; for example, the World Bank has argued that the private sector is a key contributor in emerging economies with limited public education capacity, supporting quality provision across all levels, from early childhood development to tertiary education and lifelong learning.

By reframing risk as a source of strategic foresight, the report positions higher education institutions not only to anticipate disruption, but to redefine their role as inclusive, financially resilient, and socially relevant platforms in an increasingly complex environment.