The boutique university?

boutique /bu:’ti:k/ 1. a small shop selling fashionable clothes or accessories 2. a business serving a sophisticated or specialised clientele

We’ve seen the rise of the boutique hotel – small and individual hotels. Focused on being comfortable, intimate, stylish and aspirational. They are set apart from the homogeneity of their large chain rivals.

Could we see the rise of the ‘boutique university’?

Well, what would the characteristics of a boutique university be?

Small scale and individual. Each boutique university would be a small scale affair. Offering a localised service and specialising in a particular theme of learning. Probably concentrating on the business, tech and design subjects. The skills that will help drive the developing urban tech scenes.

In effect, serving the growing market of ‘skill hackers’.

Skill Hacker: noun; a person that continuously revisits, reinvents and reinvests in skills. A restless pursuit of new skills to offset declining market value of existing abilities. Core competencies are flexibility, adaptability and speed of learning.

Curating the best of available online resources. The internet has given us choice. It can seem at times like too much choice. The ability to curate a valued collection of anything now has value. Shops of curated collections are bucking the trend and being successful on the high street. Be it travel agents, stationery shops or, perhaps, learning providers.

This would be a personal service. To help a learner identify where they want their career to go.What skills would help them get there. And what mix of online courses would best help them gain those skills.

A bricks and mortar presence. A place for learners to hang out. A bar or cafe perhaps. A place to network or relax. Maybe a recognised presence in an existing establishment. But it will be stylish. And it will have the vibe and energy of a place on the up. A feeling that everyone there is going places.

There’ll be real people too. A ‘concierge’ to sort out issues. Access to face to face mentor support if needed. Regardless of the range of online courses being taken. A friendly face locally will be the only person who needs to be contacted to sort out any issue. They will do the chasing up.

And if the learner needs a little extra help on a particularly tricky issue? The establishment will have someone in their contact book who they can speak to. Not just someone who can help, but someone who helps introduce learners to new networks of people.

Coffee table text books? Paper can still hold a certain allure. Even for technology

lovers. Hard copy text books are still popular. How about a text book that is as stylish as it is informative? Designs by up and coming designers. Collectables. There is a print revival taking place. Well designed publications with premium content are in demand.

In the right areas. The up and coming areas. The places with a vibrancy and culture that signal a neighbourhood that is going places.

Links to real work. Coding boot camps that offer a high chance of employment after course completion have seen huge demand. Boutique universities will have links with local organisations. And these organisations will offer the opportunity of gaining some practical, real world, experience. This would be popular and useful.

And the systems? Based on existing third party tools. No need for inhouse software. The learning would take place primarily in the apps and websites developed by the third party learning providers. Other activities such as social interaction, monitoring productivity and documentation would be based on existing apps and tools that learners are likely to use in their day to day social and work lives.

An actual university? No, not actual a universities. But universities will start moving into this area of semi formal learning. Where the emphasis is on career development but the learning does not result in a formal qualification.

Learners will look for the provider who offers the best all round experience and results. The distinction between traditional universities and new learning providers may become largely irrelevant.

Would learners prefer links with real world businesses and networks? Or links to academic networks?

How would they raise money? Monthly subscriptions. Much the same way people are happy to pay a membership to a gym. With the boutique university they can pay a monthly fee to get their skill set and career prospects in shape. A good investment, no?

So, just some thoughts on what the future might hold. Is there a place for boutique universities? Would you attend one?

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts. Let me know either by commenting here or giving me a shout on twitter.

Originally published at steveparkinson101.wordpress.com on November 4, 2014.