A fifth dynamic relates to the impact of information and communication technology on all aspects of learning – distance learning, e-learning, and the growth of open universities that are making higher education more accessible, especially for working adults.

Technology has a critical role to play in improving the quality of higher education, making it ‘fit for purpose’ for 21^st century knowledge societies. UNESCO has been closely associated with the open educational resources community, through which some 3,000 courses are now freely available in digital format. However, in spite of the increased supply of technology-enhanced learning environments, the digital divide is a reality in many parts of the world, particularly in the least developed and developing countries. It is critical that national policies are put in place to remove existing barriers to digital, and hence, social exclusion for vulnerable and marginalized populations so as to enable a more equitable access to technology and its benefits for long-term socio-economic development.