DIRECTIONS OF THE EVOLUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Technological progress has irreversibly changed the approach to education, including higher education. New generations of students have different educational needs and requirements, which usually do not meet up to the level of university infrastructures and IT preparation of teaching staff. Currently, universities and lecturers can choose from a wide range of possibilities that change the way students are educated. There are many options available, such as mobile learning, multimedia-learning, Web 2.0-based learning, and teaching using extended and virtual reality. A move towards a smarter, technology-rich educational environment has been initiated by a number of top universities across the world, paving the way for new regional and national initiatives, and higher education institutions which face ongoing funding challenges. The paper presents an analysis of global trends in technology-enhanced academic education and indicates the potential of new teaching and learning environments to meet the needs of generation Z. It also discusses barriers to the implementation of innovative technologies in education provided by Polish universities.