A report predicts that most further education (FE) establishments will need to radically change the way they deliver course content to keep up with future of technology.

The report, commissioned by Access UK, who supply HR software to the FE sector, predicts a rise in connectivity as technology becomes available across all platforms and devices, resulting in 50 billion devices being connected by 2020.

It also says smartphones will overtake PCs as the most popular device for accessing the web by 2013.

The report, The future of technology: transforming mid-market business operations, was produced by the Centre for Future Studies.

It suggests the UK is entering an era of “pervasive connectivity” where students are able to access content and information instantly from almost anywhere in the world via a range of devices, such as smartphones and tablet devices.

It adds that FE institutions which can effectively harness the power of all these connections and digital tools will be able to attract talent, improve the quality of their education experience, and create a more collaborative and productive learning environment.

The report also suggests the increase in demand for personalisation online will lead to students demanding more individualised curricula and coursework that can be continuously adjusted to accommodate the interests and pace of each student individually.

“This report offers an invaluable insight into some of the key technological trends and impacts facing all organisations, regardless of size or industry,” said Chris Bayne, CEO of Access UK. 

“We are already beginning to see the impact of mobile internet adoption, and a demand for hybrid technology platforms combining traditional on-site solutions with web-based software components.

“Many of our clients are using Access technology to manage their organisation across multiple sites, using a mixture of desktop and mobile devices.  We can only see the demand for these solutions increasing.”

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